Search - manfred mann's earth band :: Roaring Silence

This album has much more to offer than just a smash hit

Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 10/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Released in 1976, this great album from Manfred Mann's Earth band introduced a new lineup and explores a somewhat softer side that was not present on excellent albums like Solar Fire (1973) and Nightingales and Bombers (1975). The Roaring Silence also featured the bands smash hit adaptation of Bruce Springsteen's Blinded by the Light, which placed them at the number one slot in America. Although I have personally grown weary of hearing this radio staple, the remaining material on the album is excellent and very interesting as well.



The lineup includes Manfred Mann (Hammond organ; electric piano; mellotron; mini-moog synthesizer; string ensemble; end vocals on Blinded); Chris Hamlett Thompson (lead vocals; electric guitar); Chris Slade (drums and percussion); and Colin Pattenden (electric bass). Joining the core group is a group of backup female vocalists; a formally trained choir comprised of male and female vocalists; in addition to string, woodwind, and brass players. The guys in the band are all great musicians and I especially like Manfred's synth choice - he prefers the warmer tone colors. Of course, his use of mellotron is a huge plus in my book and the string synthesizer really works well. The choir is excellent and is featured on Babylon. Chris Thompson's vocal style is more in keeping with hard rock, but he tones back on the quieter tracks (Chris favors a harder edged guitar sound).



Stylistically, this album is a toughie - in fact musicologist Edward Macan has referred to this band as "unclassifiable". I personally hear a mix of blues-based hard rock, soft rock, spacey progressive rock, and a tiny smidge of jazz rock. The neat thing is that just when you think that a piece falls into a predictable style; the group goes in a completely different direction, although they pretty much stay in progressive territory. In general, the music on this album is what I would refer to as being "subtly complex" - there is a lot going on in each piece, but it does not hit you over the head.



I won't go into too much detail describing their cover of Blinded by the Light - suffice to say that it is a progged-up version of a Bruce Springsteen tune that was immensely popular. My favorite part of the track is when Manfred starts playing Chopsticks ("The Celebrated Chop Waltz" by Euphemia Allen) in the middle of the instrumental break - it is pretty funny. Singing the Dolphin Through (written by Mike Heron) is the odd track out on the album - this is a soft ballad with female backup singers and mellotron (with string tape setting) pads here and there. Although I do not mind the piece one bit, other prog fans have a problem with it. In addition to these tracks, there is a great (live) proggy instrumental (Waiter, there is a Yawn in My Ear); and a series of pieces with progressive flourishes, more rocking sections, and spacier sections (particularly the nice, mellotron heavy ballad Questions). Starbird is cool in that the entire track seems to be loosely based on a single theme from Igor Stravinsky's Firebird Suite -Yes would open their shows with this excerpt. The choir parts on Starbird are excellent. Other nice moments include the opening to Babylon - this piece opens with the real choir, which is then augmented with Manfred on mellotron (with the choir tape setting).



This remastered version of the album by Cohesion/Creature/Petbrook is pretty good and features crisp sound quality (although there are some quirks on Blinded by the Light); and informative liner notes. The bonus tracks include Spirits in the Night (which was originally recorded for Nightingales and Bombers and appeared on the US version of the Roaring Silence); and a single edit of Blinded by the Light. Both tracks are OK, although they do not add much to the original album.



As a hardcore prog rock freak, I can honestly say that I enjoyed this album and would recommend it along with Solar Fire and Nightingales and Bombers. One other album that might prove enjoyable includes Nexus (Argent, 1974)."

Wrong artwork

Alessandro Torchiana | Cairo Egypt | 07/08/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The CD contained in the package received is the one I required, but the artwork (front lable) is relevant to another title: WATCH.



Nevermind, the musical content is what I listen to."