ANACHRONISM TANGO

This is the last Man-studioalbum so far. Their future seems to be uncertain, because they haven´t got any gigs after Progfeast, that is next week here in Finland. Of course it´s possible they´re going to record another album. Anyway this is third album with same line-up, except keyboard player Phil Ryan left the band before recordings. Not sure was it recorded a lot before 2019, because according to wikipedia for their 50th Anniversary tour in 2018 new drummer Shane Dixon and also old keyboardplayer Malcolm Morley joined the band. Let´s see what´s the line-up in the Progfeast!

"Too Much Too Soon" opens the album in a very americana way. There are rough sounding guitars, acoustic guitar and straightforward tango drumbeat. Good song! "Still In Love and Trembling" is faster, but other way continues in a same style as the previous one. Good slide guitar in it. Some kind of tango rhythm comes back in the begin of "Manor Farm", but it changes soon to country rock ballad. But in the solo there are again those "tango hits" and it´s lasting the rest of the song. "Manor Farm" continues in the begin of "The Holy Flame Of Freedom" but soon it changes to very dark ballad. Lots of intensity in it! But we go back to the very positive atmosphere in "Walking a Tightrope With Nowhere To Fall". Very good song again!

"Isaac Newton´s Gravitational Shuffle" is almost rock´a´billy track. They have played this on their latest gigs, so really like to see faces of the progfans during this! "To Sing Rave On" adds little bit country into previous billy-vibe! Also this has been played in recent Man-concerts. "Half Way Up the Hill" goes back to the previous direction in it´s slow tempo rock. "Chains Of Sleep" is beautiful acoustic ballad reminding a lot The Byrds. "Special Education" is also very Byrds-like piece and ends this record in a very great way!

In this album Man continues the direction chosen in previous "Reanimated Memories". Before these albums they had a mix of different styles from stadium rock to country rock, but these last ones are wholly americana albums. It ´s not bad thing because also production has changed really natural sounding. All the way I like the most of these two last records from their after seventies albums. But there will be quite contrast in Progfeast between Man and the Soft Machine/Colosseum. On the other hand they will play also their old, psychedelic classic pieces. All the way there are coming great music evening!