2 OZS OF PLASTIC WITH A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE

Recent acquisition on the Man back catalogue on vinyl has proved that one of the greatest bands to emerge from Wales had a) a big list of albums and b) the quality of them is fairly consistent blending good with mediocre tracks on a regular basis. The arrival in the post on "2 Ozs. Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle" coincided with a trip to optometrists and the application of drops to dilate the pupils of the eyes. Whilst this left me with enough vision to turn on the Rega, it wasn't sufficient to allow me to read the sleeve notes or which side I was playing. I did know which album I was playing.

You are usually doing something else whilst listening to music, however I can recommend eye drops (or alternatively eye patches or those covers that posh older people using on the plane. You listen to the music.

As commented by other reviewers, Man's second album sees them getting into their stride and the style and line-up(s) that saw them through to All's Well That Ends Well. The music for me a prototypical Man, and captures some of style and flavour which was always best live (at the Roundhouse, though 94's Official Bootleg from the Marquee) is my personal favourite. With Man you get a real sense of West Coast US meets Methyr Tydfil with and undercurrent of hard rocking trying to break out through the dreamy sounds of the Pacific surf, sort of. Spunk Box is the standout track for me, though again its better live (and extended) on the Greaser Truckers album.

With my vision returning I flipped the album and totally oblivious to the ironing stack behind me, continued to enjoy and understand was is really a great album. It's getting harder find on vinyl I sense, and my copy isn't perfect, but it's the only way to listen to this type and period of music. I am a fan or Man, their place in history and principally (or is that principality) their music. It's one of their better ones.