REVELATION

I have a strange relationship with Man (the Man band that is!) ... I am familiar with two albums that bookend what is supposed to be their most progressive phase (from their second album 2 Ozs. Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle to the live workout Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day and Back Into The Future) but I haven't actually heard anything from that period. As such what I can tell you is that Revelation is a damn good psychedelic album, while Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics is a bland pop/rock excursion that ranks as one of the biggest disappointments in my collection. As for the "magic" stuff in between? You'll have to ask someone else!

Now Revelation has some brilliant tunes and works as a cohesive whole. Sure, you're likely to find the moaning orgasmic female voices of Erotica and the opening narration somewhat cheesy, but for melancholy blues-based psychedelic rock that foreshadowed the evolution of progressive rock, there are few superior albums to go to.

From the opening ominous echoing melody of And In The Beginning and the stomping blues of Sudden Life all the way through the glorious gothic organ and wordless vocals of Puella! Puella! (Woman! Woman!), the soft-core porn of Erotica and the menacing intent of Don't Just Stand There (Come In Out Of The Rain) and the epic conclusion of The Future Hides Its Face (which reprises that great guitar line of the first track) Man are pretty much tuned in.

The creative core of keyboardist Clive John and guitarists/band mainstays Roger "Deke" Leonard and Mike Jones all stand out as they create a wash of swelling organ (that's right!) and pungent stinging acidic guitar lines that will have you begging for more. While the lead vocals (which include some uncredited contributions from a female guest, and not just on the orgasm sections!) aren't exactly stellar they meet the requirements of the music, or perhaps more pertinently, the time.

Indeed I can heartily recommend this album to fans of psychedelic rock, for it is a lost classic of that genre. However, like other superb recordings by Vanilla Fudge and Tomorrow that I've also reviewed here, it is missing just a little too much to make it an essential purchase from a progressive rock point of view. ... 57% on the MPV scale