Mansun - 'Little Kix' (Parlophone)
4/5
By: Toby L
This is the main reason rockfeedback was inspired into existing: unfair and inaccurate reviews. Some publications chose to give this eleven track, third long-player of Paul Draper and co. unreasonably pitiful figures out of five and ten with the most feeblest of justifications. Rewardingly, Mansun have taken a step away from their expectedly, misunderstood masterpiece 'Six', a triumph of musical ability in times when three chords is all you'd need to know to top the UK charts, and followed it with this, a more song-based album. Unlike what the cynics have suggested, though, this isn't a step back to the days of 'Attack of the Grey Lantern'. Oh no, and it's not a step backwards from 'Six'. It is, in fact, a step in a new direction.
Or, as Mansun main-man Paul Draper describes it, this is 'A New Beginning', as reflected in the opening 'Butterfly', amidst an unsettling chorus and typical, twangy Chad guitar and blaring synths. However, with top-ten single, 'I Can Only Disappoint U' following, although the mood is sombre, it's strangely uplifting; as if the character that's singing is dramatically far worse off than you are. Elsewhere, the epic qualities of the record begin with the atmospheric 'Comes As No Surprise', which is no less than spine-tingling when performed live, but the heavy and brooding subject matter ends here. Briefly.
Second single 'Electric Man' surely possesses the most glorious and touching chorus that pop music has seen for ages. It may be a bit like Bowie... well, in fact, a lot like Bowie, but it's moving all the same. In fact, it's this playful pop-vein that flows throughout the whole work to provide a subtle continuity; there's also the funky 'Love Is...' (another single contender) and 'Fool' (which is also probably a possible future hit). Mind you, the sweeping strings in 'Soundtrack 4 2 Lovers' could enable it to be a smash, or the irresistible melody of 'Forgive Me' - in fact, Parlophone could have a field day with this release and issue six singles if they really wanted.
The closing 'We Are the Boys', possibly an answer to previous single 'Being a Girl' by proving that 'Boys have got feelings too', is shamelessly infectious and works intriguingly as a penultimate number to the bizarre though enchanting 'Goodbye', complete with sounds from a live crowd. Without a shadow of a doubt then, claims that this is possibly Mansun's finest clutch of songs to date are quite possibly true. The rich and broad spectrum of music on this record surpasses their previous efforts, with more modern styles being adopted after maybe too a few too many references to the fact that they can sound a bit eighties. But this is 2000, and Mansun are ahead of the game by making music that other guitar bands will be struggling to even consider in five years' time.
Artists in this article: Mansun
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