NIGHTINGALES & BOMBERS

I would certainly rate this as one of MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND's better albums. Right up there with my favourite "Solar Fire" in fact. This just really "sounds" good. The drumming is outstanding and Mick's guitar and vocals are fantastic. The bass is very prominant and of course Manfred's keyboard work is all over this recording.

"Spirits In The Night" is a favourite track of many from this album, but for me it's probably my least favourite. I do think it's pretty good but the Springsteen lyrics do nothing for me. I do like the guitar and the cello on the chorus. Some excellent guitar after 3 1/2 minutes as well. "Countdown" is an instrumental with a great rhythm.The guitar is all over this and we get some mellotron as well.The keyboards and guitar trade solos later. "Time Is Right" is led by drums and vocals early. It gets better when it kicks back in before 3 minutes to the end. Lots of great guitar again here. "Crossfade" has some nice synth work on it. The guitar takes over 1 1/2 minutes in. Catchy stuff.

"Visionary Mountains" features synths and organ early. Vocals a minute in. The guitar is incredible 3 1/2 minutes in. It then settles with organ. What a great tune. This cover of a Joan Armatrading song is much better than the other cover ("Spirits In The Night"). "Nightingales And Bombers" opens with synths that make me think of RUSH. I love how this sounds. It's like everything is being held back. It breaks out 2 1/2 minutes in. The guitar is lighting it up after 3 minutes and then it settles again. These last two tracks are amazing to say the least. "Fat Nelly" opens sounding like "Blinded By The Light" with the pulsating organ. Vocals join in. Melancholic synths then keys take over. Guitar is next as drums pound. Excellent tune. "As Above So Below (Live)" is dominated by keyboards and drums early. The sound is building. It sounds like female vocals 3 minutes in then birds chirping before it turns haunting.

A solid 4 stars. This was much better then I was anticipating.