MAN OUT OF TIME

A collection of Dave Newhouse songs that contain some of his most complex, well-developed ideas since he went solo. I love that there is so much going on within each song that I pick out entirely new and different things with each listening.

1. "What's the Big Idea?" (4:19) all musicians here seem to be traveling their own solo paths while somehow, amazingly, creating a wonderfully mature weave. (9.5/10)

2. "World Song" (3:49) great drumming beneath Carla Diratz' bluesy singing and the rest of the band's baseline weave. (8.5/10)

3. "In for a Penny" (4:34) great Canterbury slow groove (Fender Rhodes, horns, and bass) over which xylophone, flute, vocalise, and drums create some wonderfully melodic trails. (9/10)

4. "Red Ball Express" (2:56) one of Dave's more free-form, boundary-pushing, almost laughable, hot air balloon ride compositions that remains somehow tethered to the ground by the mellifluous winds. (4.25/5)

5. "4 Steps Back" (10:45) a very well conceived and realized Canterbury style jazz song with nice contributions from strings and Mark Stanley's electric guitar--and a most excellent contribution from drummer Sean Rickman. I love the Muffins-like eight and ninth minutes and then the pugillistic final two minutes. Great editing and mixing to get this one to sound so perfect. (18.75/20)

6. "Fred's Dream" (3:58) opens with a sound, styling, and pacing that is quite reminiscent of STEELY DAN or some other Gary Katz production (Rosie Vela or Love and Money). GREAT melodic and harmonic structure. And so fun to have Fred Frith's wild contribution! (9.5/10)

7. "Silver Age" (4:00) opens like something from HAROLD BUDD and THE COCTEAU TWINS' The Moon and the Melodies 1986 album. Fun! (8.5/10)

8. "These Days" (2:32) beautiful, peaceful keyboard (Fender Rhodes) work over which Rich O'Meara splays his marimba work. (4.75/5)

Total Time 36:53

I am so grateful for Dave's detailed liner notes explaining the etiology of each song: they are so enjoyable to read. The Coronavirus pandemic definitely allowed Dave the time and room to fully and completely develop and rework his ideas into wonderfully complete feeling songs. A-/5 stars; a minor masterpiece of Canterbury style jazz.

To whom it may concern. Who's the 'Man Out Of Time' here? It's meant like nothing more than ahead of time, no doubt. Initiated by Dave Newhouse (The Muffins) this marks an album consisting of a recipe with well-elaborated Canterbury and Avant Jazz bordering songs. Where some of them have been unfinished samples deriving from diverse prior music projects. One reason why so much guest musicans are involved, I'd say. Having a total length of 36 minutes a rather short one, though tension filled anyhow. Experimental, partially weird, but also accessible, melodic in the same way. Something for everyone, so to say. Thus for example What's The Big Idea partially sounds if a Jazz Big Band is underway.

The following melancholic World Song on the other hand is a leftover from recordings for another great album. Produced under the moniker DIRATZ, also in collaboration with Newhouse. Where Carla's figure as well as her voice somehow reminds me of Renate Knaup (Amon Düül 2). In For A Penny then is showing a canterburyesque flow including wonderful electric piano akin to Soft Machine. The utterly complex and multi-varianted 4 Steps Back marks the album highlight, includes a guitar solo that is delivered by Mark Stanley, a tad Gary Boyle and Alan Holdsworth reminiscent. Fantastic! Fred's Dream is dedicated to guitarist Fred Frith. The main theme was experienced during a concert, and then modeled by Newhouse later. Even Frith himself has provided the solo finally. Superb album, definitely recommended, I'm delighted to see and hear so much prolific musicians involved.

When it comes to Canterbury-style music there are few who can compare to Dave Newhouse, who first with The Muffins and now with Manna/Mirage somehow manages to keep producing wonderful songs over a career which is now 50 years in the making. This album is somewhat more diverse, with quite a few different musicians (I note his Moon Men compadr' Jerry King is on a few), so I wonder if it was taken from different sessions or if it is a clean-up, but whatever it is, we have yet another wonderful album which contains plenty of jazz mixed in with the Canterbury sounds. Dave is wearing multiple hats on this one, with keyboards as well as multiple woodwind and brass instruments, and even adds some vocals and drums as well.

This is less of a band album and more of a Newhouse release, as he is very much at the centre of everything, adding in different musicians as the need arises, and the result is something which is compelling, diverse, fascinating, and full of focus. I have been listening to quite a lot of Dave's material in recent years, in different bands, and as well as being a consummate musician, he also has a wonderful compositional style which makes for albums which are always intriguing. On the last Manna/Mirage album, 202's 'Face', I said I was pleased that 'Fly Away' was at the end of the album as it was so very different to the rest, and yet again here we have another piano-led piece which is wonderful yet removed with the delicate 'These Days'. Newhouse produces albums which are timeless, yet current, wrapped in space, delivered with care, and this is yet another wonderful example of his work. Essential for any fans of the genre.