GEOFF MANN

— First review of this album —

On 5th February 1993, Edmund Geoffrey Mann died aged just 36 years old, leaving behind not only his family but artwork, plays, fifteen albums and the memories of the fans who had seen him perform in hundreds of concerts. Of all the musicians who have died since I became interested in music it was this death which impacted me the most (still true to this day), and I put together a tribute from many who had played with and known him. Thirty years on and Andrew Wild released 'His Love', a wonderful biography of the Mann with loads of photos and information, and to accompany that there was also this CD which can now be purchased separately.

What we have here is a Is a 15-track compilation album taking tracks from all the different albums Geoff recorded from 1981 until his untimely passing in 1993, presented chronologically. Is this a 'Best Of'? No, as there are just way too many songs missing - no "Creepshow" or "Sequences" for example, both songs which Geoff totally owned, while "We Are Sane" and "The Collector" are also absent, but if these had been included then it would have had to be a much longer release so it is best to think of it instead as an introduction. This is a nice way of seeing the changes in Geoff's approach through the years as when he joined Twelfth Night, they were primarily an instrumental act and he had to find room for his voice, "Sequences" being the best example of that, and here we see him moving from being an essential member of a band through to solo artist, collaborator and band leader.

Of his canon, 'Casino', is often the most overlooked which is nothing short of criminal as this project with Clive Nolan had the potential to become huge and it is interesting to compare it with the songs either side, with "Over The Edge" (with Marc Catley) featuring his wonderful wobbly guitar while "Apathetic & Here, I" is just Geoff and an acoustic. Geoff packed way more into his time here than many of have achieved with far greater time, and this set is a wonderful way of discovering more about his music and is the perfect item to be listening to while reading the book, so why not get both?

After The Bond ended in 1988, Geoff re-convened with bassist Paul Keeble and drummer Gary Mitchell who had also been in The Earthlings (Geoff's first short-lived post-TN band), and new guitarist John Maycraft. Being more established musicians, the band presented a more accessible/mainstream rock sound, with less emphasis on the 'wobbly music' Geoff had hitherto produced. Keeble's fretless bass has a very warm sound which ties in with the drums to underpin the overall sound, and while there are a few keyboards (also by Keeble) their overall usage is greatly reduced and the result is a jagged rock album which is far more in your face than Geoff's earlier solo works.

As with the other definitive edition we again get demo versions of every song from the original album, here presented in the same running order (which includes an extended version of "More Than This"), plus some live cuts plus all lyrics and photos in the booklet. I know this album even more than 'Won By One', proudly owning a white label test pressing (I have no idea when I bought it, or where from, but I've had it the best part of 30 years now). It contains one of Geoff's very finest songs in "Never Mind" which in many ways is a song which fits neatly between his older style and where he was going, less aggressive and more emotional, with Keeble having a major impact with his delicate bass and keyboards.

I have no idea how many times I have enjoyed this album over the years, but it certainly does not sound as if it is nearly 35 years old, as there is a freshness and bite to it. What Geoff accomplished in his short life is nothing short of remarkable and one can only wonder what would have happened if he had lived longer. This is an essential purchase for anyone interested in his music, and is another wonderful introduction to those who wonder what all the fuss is about. He lived and breathed music to the very last, an incredible man.

— First review of this album —

After Geoff Mann left Twelfth Night he continued his musical adventures, releasing three solo albums. After the recording had been completed for the last of these, 'Psalm Enchanted Evening', and a release date planned for February 1986 he decided to form a band, which would later be known as The Bond. Geoff kept with him guitarist Dave Mortimer who had played on the solo albums, Steve Ridley (who had been involved with the play 'The Dawn' where Geoff had the lead role) provided keyboards and occasional woodwind, while Andy Mason (who had played on 'I May Sing Grace') was the drummer. By the time of the recording of this album in 1987 Mason had departed, with Geoff now providing not only vocals and wobbly/non-wobbly guitar but also programmed and real-time drum machines.

Twelfth Night have now released this album as a definitive edition, both digitally and as a limited-edition CD which contains all the lyrics plus photos, and they have more than doubled the length by including the single versions of two songs, a demo of each song from the original, plus live cuts. All the tracks have been carefully re-mastered by the original recording engineer (and co-producer) Clive Davenport from previously unheard and higher quality master tracks. This means it is absolutely essential for fans of Geoff, and ties in nicely with the excellent new biography, but what about those who have yet to come across his music? How does this album stand up more than 35 years after its release?

This is almost impossible for me to review objectively as I know the original songs very well indeed, while it is no lie to say the death of Geoff back in 1993 (when he was just 36) impacted me greatly, even though we never actually met. Both these factors mean objectivity has gone flying out the window, as the original album is one I know and love, and listening to the songs again in this definitive edition is wonderful. Lyrically it is highly Christian in nature, while the lack of bass and real drums are not noticed at all. Geoff's music had a very picked nature, with an underlying theme providing the backing and a more aggressive chord structure over the top with keyboards switching between being almost unnoticeable to becoming the major aspect. Then of course there are Geoff's emotional vocals, instantly recognisable and like no-one else. This album is in many ways a logical continuation of his solo albums, and does not seem out of place at all, but now there are a group of people working together to perform the songs live. Less off the wall and experimental than albums like 'Second Chants', this is a great introduction to those who wondered what Geoff did musically after leaving Twelfth Night.

The late Geoff Mann was the legendary and charismatic singer of Twelfth Night in its glory days.

Historical background: Geoff had a religious experience which set him on the road towards becoming a pastor, and during his theology studies, where he also had to run his household, while his wife was earning the money, he didn't see much of the outside world and made some albums in those days which were, in retrospect, and in his own words, a bit like "navel - gazing".

This album is his comeback - album, though, in several ways. Not only did he find contact again with the outside world, and did he form a real live band again, but also, for the first time since his Twelfth Night days, he made some steps towards progressive rock.

That is not to say that the whole album is progressive. No, the first five songs are just pop / rock, though with intelligent lyrics. For example, "Bashan Beef" is about materialism and "What's In A Name" is about the value of a name and the way in which you use it.

The real gem on this cd is "The Waking Dawn", an epic with different segments, about a city which lived in the dark. Geoff's christian belief's come to the surface quite clearly in this cd, but not in a way that it would irritate people. Geoff said that he didn't want to converse people with his music, but every artist sings about what is important to him / her. But Geoff does it very imaginatively, especially in "The Waking Dawn".

Don't expect "The Waking Dawn" to be an epic like some epics you heard before. Geoff was really beginning to think progressive again, and the last thing he wanted was (and now I quote from Geoff Mann himself) "songs about hobbits on drugs, in some weird time signature". "The Waking Dawn" almost sounds like industrial prog in some places, a very modern sound, because Geoff really wanted to create something new. It is therefore that "The Waking Dawn" doesn't even resemble great Twelfth Night epics like "We Are Sane" and "The Collector".

This cd was an important move back towards progressive rock, and that would even get more in the latest phase of his life, where he made the amazing full prog - album Casino with Clive Nolan, continued with some very artistic music with Marc Catley, and where he made a stunning avant -garde solo cd called Second Chants . But Ministry Of The Interior is his comeback - album, in a way.

The late great Geoff Mann's dark album Second's Chants is a pure study in itself and not for the young at heart. This album has some serious issues and although a tad on the bizarre still has an overall vibe of greatness. There is a fiar chunk of "talking" on this album so it may not appeal to all prog heads. The hlf of the album that is music is awesome.....and without a question "Apathetic and here I" is one of my personal favourite prog songs of all time. On this album he sings with IQ's Peter Nicholls. If you can find this gem get it !

As i suppose before write this no previous reviews about this great artist (writer, singer, painter, priest...), he still be a bit unknow but this man was (he died of cancer in 1993) one of the best voices of 80´s and first 90's Geoff is most know for his work in U.K´s prog band TWELFTH NIGHT, also after leaving T.N. he started a solo career with other musicians, like Peter Nicholls, Clive Nolan (CASINO), Marc Catley, THE BOND, A GEOFF MANN BAND.... but maybe this album is his most complete solo work till he died the musical style can be described like a pop-prog or simple pop, most of the lyrics are about god or religion but in fact this question doesn´t matter at all, don´t expect boring slow songs with acoustic guitar singing how happy i´m with me or this kind of things... for me the best of Geoff MANN is what you fell with the voice, maybe not the best voice of the world, but very personal and honest and if we sit down and think about this is exactly what a song have to do: makes you feelas a curiosity several years after Geoff´s death a tribute album was recorded by a lot of friends and bands who knows Geoff or work with him, this album was called "Mannerisms" (A Celebration Of The Music Of Geoff MANN) and includes covers of Geoff songs performed by EH!, PALLAS, IQ, GALAHAD, Marc CATLEY & PALEY´S WATCH, FLAP, EDEN BURNING, PENDRAGON, JADIS, TWELFTH NIGHT and Clive NOLAN & Alan REED R.I.P.