Album Reviews

Band: Man Album: Helping Hand Label: Sub Rosa Release Date: Out Now Format: CD

It's the 3rd album from the Man(tm) duo from France - they've had previous recordings on DSA and now rest on Sub Rosa. Man(tm) is multi instrumentalists - François Rasim Biyikli (piano, Rhodes, melodica, guitars, noises) & Charles-Eric Charrier (acoustic bass, guitar, toys). MAN is a free two-headed man, each head listening to the other, working as one with the music.

They've done many art projects, film collaborations and soundtrack projects - they return with this 3rd album - Helping Hand. It's another instrumental one like their previous ones - going along the soundtrack lines. It's like the soundtrack to a film set in a haunted house or somewhat.

The initial track "You're In For It" is slightly misleading for what's to come, yet works as you soon realise when the album ends, it was out of place on purpose. It's a kind of discothèque track with vocals - very active compared to the most of the album.

Feelings of emptiness flow through "Strange Feeling" with its bleeps, swirls and guitars. The mood slowly gains to a more pleasant one, as the album progresses through the first half. But we’re then confronted with a possible exorcism or murder in 'Separation'. Afterward we're taken back to the albums pleasant, melancholy mood, only with a fuller sound building on the instrumentation.

The duo work well to create a blissful album of discordant piano chords, toys, xylophones, violins, bleeps and percussion. It's all brilliantly done, with loads of strong emotions flowing throughout. It would fit that unmade haunted house film really well.

MAN is currently working on a new album due out in 2007. Can’t wait!

Myspace: MAN