DIAMOND HEAD

I arrived at Phil Manzanera's work back in the seventies by way of the musicians he had on his albums (I beleive Listen Now was the first I acquired), but I came to admire his guitar playing. While not a blazing speed demon or experimental wildman, Manzanera always provides interesting yet tasteful guitar licks. And the production on his albums has always been outstanding.

This album, his first true solo album, features a mixture of pop-ish songs, guitar ballads and South American flavored pieces. And it provides an excellent listening experience. I personally enjoy playing it in my car on hot summer days.

Stand out tracks are Same Time Next Week, an off-beat bluesy song with John Wetton and Doreen Chanter trading lyrics about a steamy tryst, East Of Echo, which, in it's full form, is much better than the abridged version on 801 Live, and of course, Miss Shapiro, with some of Eno's best lyrics and vocals ever.