50 MINUTES LATER

I must admit, I had given up on Phil Manzanera more than twenty years ago, after those bland albums he made with Andy MacKay and John Wetton. But after reading some of the reviews of his more recent recordings, I laid down the cash for this one. And it isn't a total loss.

The first thing I noticed is the attempt to make this one sound like his seventies albums. There are wisps of Miss Shapiro here and there, echoes of the varied slick tunes from K-Scope, and of course, Manzanera's latin tinged guitar pieces. There are even a few songs that remind me of the David Gilmour led late Pink Floyd albums. But somehow, it just doesn't quite strike a chord in me. I like it, but it doesn't draw me back like the early albums.

Manzanera does most of the lead vocals himself, and it surprises me. He should have done this sooner. His voice is somewhat reminiscent of Ray Davies.

2.5 to three stars, depending on my mood.