Harry Manx has a new album out on the Northernblues Record Label called
"Wise And Otherwise", which showcases 12 songs mostly written by Harry.
Harry was winner of 2002 Best Blues Album of the Year from the Canadian Independent Music Awards for "Dog My Cat". Harry is a well traveled artist
having been born on The Isle of Man and moving to Canada at a young age,
Harry has also spent a lot of time in India learning to play Mohan Veena (a 20-string member of the guitar family). The reason I mention this is simply
because Harry has managed to fuse together blues and Indian melodies on
this new album.
The album starts with "Only Then Will Your House Be Blessed" which is an
acoustic Gospel type song which has a compelling heart rendering vocal with some superlative guitar playing from his lap guitar and with a touch of harp
for good measure. The album continues with the first touch of the Indian
Mohan Veena at the start of "Death Have Mercy" which is very easy on the ear,
Harry turns in a faultless display of the Mohan Veena on this traditional
song as it unfolds. "Crazy Love" written by Van Morrison sounds almost
as if it is a Paul Simon song due to Harry sounding like Paul Simon on this tough
yet gentle song which sees Harry playing Slide guitar. Another cover is
"The Thrill is Gone" which is welded behind a short Indian piece "The Gist
of Madhuvanti" and somehow Harry has managed to marry the Indian feel into
"The Thrill is Gone", to which Harry has also added a six string Banjo which feels so right. Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" is handled well with Harry on the
Mohan Veena. "Don't Forget To Miss Me" is a joyful tale of love which almost
swings along. "Makes You Wanna Die Laughing" has a powerful vocal and some lovely Mohan Veena interlude as Harry plays his six string Banjo.
"Coat of Mail" is a great tale and has some nice slide guitar from Harry.
The album ends with an instrumental "Raga Nat Bhariav" which just features
Harry playing the Mohan Veena to stunning effect, which I feel is the perfect
way to finish this gorgeous album. The album is one man and his music and
successfully merges two different music cultures into this wonderful sounding
bluesy Indian hybrid music. This is acoustic music at it's very best.
Harry Manx website: www.harrymanx.com
Northernblues: www.northernblues.com
E-mail: info@northernblues.com
Simply click on the CD cover at left to order this CD NOW!
This review is copyright © 2002 by Dave Thomas, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission.
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