photo by Chris Galley
The deeply felt memory purge of "Fugue of the Wino" (Con Fuga De Wayno) by UK based singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger Iain Mann (and from the collaborative upcoming album "Magic Tracks" by Mann with Alexi Glickman of Sandy's) feels instantly / easily embedded in your heart. Wonderfully constructed out of simple orchestrations stripped down to their essence it is the kind of song that would have large groups of strangers on bench seating swaying shoulder to shoulder in a communal experience or others in the confines of their own homes curled up on the couch in tears, happy or sad or both. It is that kind of song, magical like the tenuous mysterious connection between life and death. The beautiful melancholia, maybe a blend of metaphor and direct observations might mean more to us creative types, us musicians... artists rich in spirit or unfulfilled or maybe not. Maybe that is presumptuous of me to even think but I do love this song.
"they're scattered all around you / the tools of a troubadour / twisted pipes and strange guitars / in pieces on the floor / and you're favorite one's / a decoration now / unloved, unstrung / and stuck in a corner / you take them down / but why do they all sound / so lonely now?"
I don't necessarily like making comparisons though I often do but did feel ghosts of greats like Elliot Smith, like Paul Simon (and Simon and Garfunkel) and the soundtracks in Wes Anderson movies. I also don't like cut and pasting in my reviews but the LINER NOTES provided are so full of interesting facts and pertinent heartfelt seeds, reasons for the creation of "Magic Tracks" so I must. (smiling)
LINER NOTES (bracketed):
[Magic Tracks is the debut album by UK based singer-songwriter Iain Mann. Produced in collaboration with Alexi Glickman of Sandy’s, the warm sounds of Magic Tracks carry Mann’s colorful portrayal of familiar heroes, villains, and loved ones. Raised in Berkeley, CA & Lima, Peru, and currently based in Cambridge, UK, Mann wrote & recorded the album during the Covid-19 quarantine while sheltering in place with his wife and kids in Scotland. Consequently, their voices pepper the songs as we imagine him sneaking downstairs to overdub a bit of violin or bass guitar before bedtime, adding a folksy charm to the recordings. Weaving together hook-laden pop songs, baroque vignettes and cathartic ballads, the album showcases Mann’s formidable range as a singer-songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist - recalling the homespun vibes of The White Album and Smiley Smile, the melodic songcraft of Big Star, and the late-night tales of Elliott Smith.
Mann and co-producer Alexi Glickman first met in college at UC Santa Cruz over 20 years ago, playing together in a band called Lesterjett and developing a friendship forged over the shared pursuit of timeless and transcendent songwriting. Fittingly, the album’s title track “Magic Tracks” was inspired by a psilocybin experience that called Iain back to these years among the ancient redwood forests of Santa Cruz. “I was visited by crazy, dancing sages, teaching joy - the Buddha was there, and so was Professor Calculus from Tintin - and the ancient roots of California's sequoias revealed secrets that I can't begin to express in language. As the geometry on the walls dissolved, and I came back from the trip, I was free from depression for the first time in years” says Mann.
“Fugue of the Wino (Con Fuga De Wayno)” and ”Saya For Molly” both pull from Mann’s childhood years spent in Peru and his ensuing fascination with Andean folk music; the former’s folk music outro was played by Mann himself on quena, charango and guitar, while the latter’s stumbling rhythm is based on the Bolivian Saya. “Room For You”, “Max”, and “Family Glass” recall 90’s indie-rock, while the closing sequence of “Baby Zora”, “Sandy Says”, “Nothing On California”, and “Alright Here” brings to mind McCartney’s famous Side B medley on Abbey Road.
Mann is joined on the album by a cast of musicians including multi-instrumentalist Glickman (Sandy’s); drummers Jeremy Black (Apollo Sunshine), Cody Rhodes (Skyway Man, Curls), and Rob Mills (French Cassettes, Spooky Mansion); vocalist Xo Mai Eng-Mann; and childhood friend Lorenzo Farrell, whose organ playing adds a distinctive touch to the album, recalling Procol Harum and The Band. Alongside Glickman, David Glasebrook mixed and mastered the album at his studio in Oakland, CA, while Austin, TX based graphic artist William Gaynor designed the album cover, inspired by Mann’s titular rebirth in the redwoods.
Royal Oakie Records is excited to release “Magic Tracks” on CD, cassette, and digital worldwide on April 26th, 2024.]
Mann and co-producer Alexi Glickman first met in college at UC Santa Cruz over 20 years ago, playing together in a band called Lesterjett and developing a friendship forged over the shared pursuit of timeless and transcendent songwriting. Fittingly, the album’s title track “Magic Tracks” was inspired by a psilocybin experience that called Iain back to these years among the ancient redwood forests of Santa Cruz. “I was visited by crazy, dancing sages, teaching joy - the Buddha was there, and so was Professor Calculus from Tintin - and the ancient roots of California's sequoias revealed secrets that I can't begin to express in language. As the geometry on the walls dissolved, and I came back from the trip, I was free from depression for the first time in years” says Mann.
“Fugue of the Wino (Con Fuga De Wayno)” and ”Saya For Molly” both pull from Mann’s childhood years spent in Peru and his ensuing fascination with Andean folk music; the former’s folk music outro was played by Mann himself on quena, charango and guitar, while the latter’s stumbling rhythm is based on the Bolivian Saya. “Room For You”, “Max”, and “Family Glass” recall 90’s indie-rock, while the closing sequence of “Baby Zora”, “Sandy Says”, “Nothing On California”, and “Alright Here” brings to mind McCartney’s famous Side B medley on Abbey Road.
Mann is joined on the album by a cast of musicians including multi-instrumentalist Glickman (Sandy’s); drummers Jeremy Black (Apollo Sunshine), Cody Rhodes (Skyway Man, Curls), and Rob Mills (French Cassettes, Spooky Mansion); vocalist Xo Mai Eng-Mann; and childhood friend Lorenzo Farrell, whose organ playing adds a distinctive touch to the album, recalling Procol Harum and The Band. Alongside Glickman, David Glasebrook mixed and mastered the album at his studio in Oakland, CA, while Austin, TX based graphic artist William Gaynor designed the album cover, inspired by Mann’s titular rebirth in the redwoods.
Royal Oakie Records is excited to release “Magic Tracks” on CD, cassette, and digital worldwide on April 26th, 2024.]
Within "Fugue of the Wino" (Con Fuga De Wayno) I feel like I have met a sad kindred spirit in Iain Mann. Maybe that is a silly thing to say but at this point in life I don't mind saying silly things.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://soundcloud.com/royal-oakie/fugue-of-the-wino/s-b9vuEF4ZM3l
https://www.youtube.com/@decincotres/videos
"Magic Tracks" is the debut album by UK based singer-songwriter Iain Mann. Produced in collaboration with Alexi Glickman of Sandy’s, the warm sounds of "Magic Tracks" carry Mann’s colorful portrayal of familiar heroes, villains, and loved ones. Raised in Berkeley, CA & Lima, Peru, and currently based in Cambridge, UK, Mann wrote & recorded the album during the Covid-19 quarantine while sheltering in place with his wife and kids in Scotland. Consequently, their voices pepper the songs as we imagine him sneaking downstairs to overdub a bit of violin or bass guitar before bedtime, adding a folksy charm to the recordings. Weaving together hook-laden pop songs, baroque vignettes and cathartic ballads, the album showcases Mann’s formidable range as a singer-songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist - recalling the homespun vibes of "The White Album" and "Smiley Smile", the melodic songcraft of Big Star, and the late-night tales of Elliott Smith.
Royal Oakie Records is excited to release “Magic Tracks” on CD, cassette, and digital worldwide on April 26th, 2024.
"Magic Tracks" is the debut album by UK based singer-songwriter Iain Mann. Produced in collaboration with Alexi Glickman of Sandy’s, the warm sounds of "Magic Tracks" carry Mann’s colorful portrayal of familiar heroes, villains, and loved ones. Raised in Berkeley, CA & Lima, Peru, and currently based in Cambridge, UK, Mann wrote & recorded the album during the Covid-19 quarantine while sheltering in place with his wife and kids in Scotland. Consequently, their voices pepper the songs as we imagine him sneaking downstairs to overdub a bit of violin or bass guitar before bedtime, adding a folksy charm to the recordings. Weaving together hook-laden pop songs, baroque vignettes and cathartic ballads, the album showcases Mann’s formidable range as a singer-songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist - recalling the homespun vibes of "The White Album" and "Smiley Smile", the melodic songcraft of Big Star, and the late-night tales of Elliott Smith.
Royal Oakie Records is excited to release “Magic Tracks” on CD, cassette, and digital worldwide on April 26th, 2024.
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