MiDoyle's Full Review: The Book of Flame by Michael Manring
Bassist, Schmasist, This Guy’s Something Else
Michael Manring has pretty much done virtually everything possible with the bass and then done it again with The Book of Flame, released in 1998 on Alchemy Records, a small jazz/instrumental label (www.alchemyrecords.com). It's a five star album if ever there was one.
For a time Manring (once a student of the late, great jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius) was a member of the Windham Hill stable of artists in the new age category. He recorded three rather good solo albums [Unusual Weather in 1986, Toward the Center of Night in 1989 and Drastic Measures in 1991.] And, he released the heavy jazz/metal/rock/fusion/new age album Thonk in 1994 on High Street Records, a Windham Hill offshoot. Solioquy, a solo bass album was released in 2005.
He was also member of the new age super-group Montreaux releasing two well received records [Sign Language in 1987, and Let Them Say in 1989]
A Hedges' Friend Worth Knowing
Manring is also well thought of by music fans as an asset to the work of supreme guitarist Michael Hedges {1953-1997] with whom he collaborated with on many albums and concert appearances during Hedges’ short but highly prolific and rewarding artistic life.
A Master of His Domain and Then Some
Somewhere along the way, Manring has managed to transcend his instrument in much the same way Hedges was able to. There is simply no other bassist out there doing the kind of music or playing the way Manring is capable of. His music is simply uncategorizable.
For The Book of Flame, Manring plays the following instruments and other gizmos: Bass Guitars, Samples, Loops, Synthesizers, Percussion, Voice, & Kitchen Utensils. One of the basses is undoubtedly the Hyperbass, a unique instrument that allows the musician to switch tunings as it is played.
Tracks:
1. The Fire Sermon* (3:44)
2. Adult Content/Brief Nudity (3:53)
3. The Book of Lies (4:46)
4. La Sagrada Familia* (4:30)
5. Theseus In The Rains (4:17)
6. No Wontons For Elvis* (4:05)
7. Your Ad (5:47)
8. Ephemeris (1:40)
9. The Adamski Photographs (5:20)
10. Dromeday (4:05)
11. The Book Of Living And Dying* [For Michael Hedges, 1953-1997] (3:25 )
The five tracks starred (*) are solo bass pieces with no overdubbing or editing and done straight to live microphones. The other tracks feature players such as Paul McCandless of Oregon fame (bass clarinet); Tim Alexander (drums); Barry Gurley (piano); Dave Tweedie (drums); Michael Masley (BaseVase sample); Doug Manring (loops); Herman Bartelen (loops); and Dustin Cunningham (drum sounds); either assisting Manring in capturing his wonderwall of sound or playing a part in the piece.
Highlights There Are Many
The highlights are the solo pieces undoubtedly. But all the pieces are about the sound landscape with levels upon levels of sonic whimsy and clarity. The No Wontons for Elvis track is full of fun and possibility, proving Manring continues to have a sense of humor about his instrument...(drummer please...)
There Are No Lowlights Here
Especially on the Michael Hedges' homage, Manring illustrates his musical mettle by shadowing his compatriot as someone beyond their instrument. It’s clearly a piece of vulnerability and loss and pain, but also of some great joy. It even captures the essence of Hedges’ gift, the utter joy of making sound.
The studio wizardry of looping and dubbing is here on The Book of Flame, yes. But not at the expense of the bass which is the core of Manring’s musical philosophy—the bass as a soloing instrument of uncommon clarity, structure and beauty. Ephermeris illustrates Manring's studio genius in less than 2 minutes.
Adult Content/Brief Nudity, The Book Of Lies, and Theseus In The Rains are tracks worth mentioning as Manring uses the other instruments to color his bass landscape in a marriage of individual sounds.
Support Your Local Independents
Admittedly, the The Book of Flame, can be hard to find in record stores as Alchemy Records has had some distribution issues to contend with. It is available at selected on-line retailers, so look for it. It can be ordered through a link at Manring’s web site (www.manthing.com).
Fans of Manring should look for his stuff at select auction sites as well. Other albums he has recorded with Cloud Chamber, Attention Deficit, and McGill/Manring/Stevens, among others, are also worth hunting down.
Note: This review was originally posted in the “Up and Coming Rock Music” category on December 22, 2000 (which is why it contains the infamous "Cat Rating Scale" of reviews past). The review was moved when the album listing magically appeared in database (the year of the catalog must be more than a rumor).
Cat Rating Scale
Neither Freddie nor Chester evidenced much enthusiasm for The Book of Flame. Perhaps, they find the idea of bass as a solo instrument confusing. In any event, they seemed to like the solo pieces that were less sonorous, but quickly bailed on the louder frequencies. Two paws down.
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