Michael Manring: The Book of Flame (CD, 45:59); Alchemy ALCD 1015, 1998
Alchemy Records
61 Surrey Dr.
Cohasset, MA, 02025 USA
Ph: 800-292-6932 or (781) 383-0086
Email: info@manthing.com
Cyberhome: http://www.alchemyrecords.com or www.manthing.com

	Manring is a master of innovation and way crazy funk fun on the bass. He slaps his Zon bass 
silly, samples, loops, E-Bows, processes and ultra-sustains his songs into a universe all his own. 
This is one of the best solo efforts Manring has put on the table to date. I have owned or sampled 
most of his offerings but on The Book of Flame ALL the stops are pulled out and a real beast is 
unleashed. Some folks labeled Manring as "disturbed" after Thönk but now we find he is 
wonderfully beyond help. His live, unedited, no overdub pieces are still a standard setting delight 
to experience as well as his warped-n-manipulated creations.
	"Theseus in the Rains" is a funkified, burpin' bass joy with that telltale Manring hornsound 
lead. He shifts from a tar pit stomp lethargy to a toe-tappin' alley cat strut in a heartbeat. Truly 
fun. "Your Ad" is like part II of "Theseus . . ." and adds offending alien invader sound effects. 
Yeah, yet another a sample-crazy framework for Manring to go wild in. Yo, dis be da phat cool 
thang happnin y'all. I am tempted to boogie down. "The Adamski Photographs" is crying out to 
be part III after "Your Ad" with straight up piano added in for the finale with Manring doing 
guitarish leads that flow right into a Stanley Clarke groove. "Dromedary" is high octane enuff in 
spots to peel paint or melt the annuli off your woofers. Watch out.
	Oh there is much more variety within but I leave the joy of discovery to you now. Live studio 
piece "No Wontons for Elvis" has a Michael Hedges Live on the Double Planet feel to it and as if 
Hedges were playing through Manring. (Dear God, We miss ya Hedges.) And to say goodbye to 
his friend, Manring calms down all the pandemonium on "The Book of Living and Dying" (for 
Michael Hedges, 1953-1997) and outros into memories and silence. Highly recommended!
	~ John W. Patterson






 NOTE:
NOTE: I HAVE HAD TO MODIFY VISITOR ACCESS OF SOUNDCLIPS
WITH A NEW WINDOW OPENING TO ANOTHER WEBPAGE. SO WHEN YOU FINISH LISTENING,
JUST CLOSE NEW WINDOW.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SOUNDCLIP PAGE.
LISTEN NOW!!


"The Book of Lies" excerpt


The sample was created with REAL PRODUCER G2 
and you will need the new REAL PLAYER G2 to play it.
 Download BOTH for FREE at:




 

To purchase this recording and get more info, soundclips, etc.
CLICK ON ARTIST'S NAME ABOVE
OR . . .

 go to MANRING MUSIC




OR . . . 

 go to my LINKS page and find the vendors' section. 
Happy hunting!