I mean I have to be grateful to him, it's not very often that an artist will spell out exactly what they are attempting for the ignorant critics so we can have clues on what to look for. Of course there are many layers of meaning when you say the Blues are of the Earth and Indian music is of the Heavens so that's where it gets tricky for the critic; figuring out which permeations this guy is going to follow.
Okay enough of the philosophical crap for a while. Is the disc good already you want to know? Should I be shelling out my hard earned shekels for it, or will it just end up as a tree ornament for this festive season. Quick answer. This disc is better than West Eats Meet and anybody who call themselves a connoisseur of finely crafted acoustic Blues would be insane not to run out and buy it this second.
While it may not be as down and dirty as one would expect from someone claiming the Delta Blues as inspiration, no driving Muddy Watters type chords here, Harry Manx most definitely posses the soul of a Blues man. Times have changed, a man doesn't just get the blues from having his woman done do him wrong anymore. No, in the twenty-first century it comes at you from far subtler directions.
No matter how hard you try/Life won't give a moments rest/And now you've come to know that/Nothing fails like success/ Harry Manx "Nothing Fails Like Success" Mantras For Madmen Dog My Cat records 2005
What does it take to be happy these days? It's the old theme of material wealth not being sufficient, but in these days that's taken on even more resonance, as the world around us grows increasingly dispassionate. Harry's songs speak to what's lacking in so much of our lives: love. Not just the straight-ahead relationship type love, which is an age-old problem, but the just plain lack of caring, compassion and love in the world period.
Alright so I an hear some of you manly men out there wincing at those words and I'll let you go back to your hard Texas Blues songs in just a second, but before you go think about how many of those songs are about love gone bad. Now instead of a woman's love going bad, it's society's love that's gone bad.
Article comments
1 - Oran Kelley
Just wanted to write to back you up on Harry Manx being something special. Not just because of the mix of sounds, not just because of the spirituality, but also because of the tough-mindedness and genuineness of his spirituality.
There are also plenty of artists out there peddling dime-store spirituality,a nd Manx isn't one of them. Unlike the run-of-the-mill, "spiritually uplifting" artist, Manx has obviously tried very hard to be honest with himself. And that honesty comes through powerfully in his music, and it often comes through as something deeply disquieting. As it should be.
Haven't heard this disc yet, but I have all his earlier releases and I'm dying to get my hands on this one.
OPK