Search - Muffins :: Manna & Mirage

A Piece of Cake

domenico | Bruxelles, Belgium | 06/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the too many progressive american band who finally gets out from the oblivion were they spend the last two decades. It is a shame as far as the first piece of music on this disc is absolute splendor : introduced on Fender Rhodes, then accompanied with flute, the quiet, gentle and subtle melody floats in the air just as it runs its course to a break wich lead us upon a neverending scale coupled with vibraphone, reminiscent of the most beautiful passages of the introspective Robert Wyatt. As it ends, the second title begins with a bang of a great horn ensemble running through sparse improvisation until the whole band joins for an impressive jam full of fury and optimistic tension. The following two titles just explores more of the same approach, but with more generosity as they are two sidelong tracks of about twelve minutes each.By far, their most accessible and rewarding album. A classic wich must stands between your own Soft Machine and Frank Zappa's albums."

For an American Band...

Carl Johnson | Detroit, MI United States | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The/Manna/Mirage is one of the better progressive canterbury style type of American progressive rock albums. Amelia Ehart is really a fantastic piece of music. Tom Scott (from New Jersey) is fantastic, performing great band line work with a tight bass and drummer. The keyboards shine simply from the art of profientcy. When I bought this on vynil,I was drawn to the odvious parallel to The Soft Machine, Caravan or The Hatfield and the North but the recording is uniquely The Muffins' own style and musical signature. Excellent spin!"