Manu Lanvin – Man On A Mission
Interesting stuff, this Manu Lanvin. A driving force in French blues-rock (you heard me right), he’s actually quite curiously good. Damn good. He possesses a gritty Tom Waits-type voice, but his bluesy, cracked leather voice captivates on “Just Need Me.” The song has a slightly arrogant attitude (“I don’t need no pretty woman, Oh, I just need me”). Why is it appealing? It’s different. No losing a woman, hard times, or down & out. He lost. He admits it. He has a guitar, a car & doesn’t need anyone. What’s not to like? It solves anxiety without meds, helps loners gain confidence, reinforces loneliness into an acceptable emotional realm, & makes the blues a fact of life.
Produced by Nikko Bonniere (Moog bass/guitars/keys/Farfisa/Mellotron/percussion/Wurlitzer) & Manu (vocals/lead guitar/bgv) the set was recorded in France, England, Canada & Nashville, TN. There’s plenty of black vocal tonality in the soulful “I Can’t Enough Of You,” (which is the title, but the lyric reads correctly as “I can’t get enough of you”). Why “get” is dropped from the title – a mystery. But each tune has its spark on the 13-track Man On A Mission (Drops Oct 10/Gel Productions/48:11).
There’s lots of dust in his boots & voice, his English is exuberant & at times he’s Joe Cocker masterful (“Change My Ways”) with lots of punch. His band is soulful & as tight as a nail planted in concrete. “I Got The Blues” detours into entertaining funk with a full-blast soulful chorus that’s an amazing performance in a Sly & the Family Stone tradition. It’s chunky, meaty & sassy. Manu does it all with James Brown’s class.
Wisely, a ballad follows. The terrific “Savigny-Sur-Orge.” An intense, fine tearjerker. Something you don’t hear often on mainstream radio. It’s excellent. How do I know it’s excellent? I have tears in my eyes, that’s how. “What’s The Matter With U?” is another Joe Cocker-type charmer & it too is thrilling. Manu’s soulfulness runs on a full tank. “Saving Angel” & “Could It Be Love” are Muscle Shoals rich with ripe backup singers — astonishingly good.
On “Man On a Mission,” the spiritual centerpiece — he displays a deep vocal similar to J.D. Blackfoot’s magnificent pipes on “The Ultimate Prophecy.” One of the year’s best albums.
Highlights – “Just Need Me,” “I Can’t Enough Of You,” “Change My Ways,” “I Got The Blues,” “Savigny-Sur-Orge,” “What’s The Matter With U?” “Saving Angel,” “Could It Be Love?” & “Man On a Mission.”
Musicians – Raphael Chassin, Mickael Desir, Julien Audigier, Jimmy Montout, & Karim Bouazza (drums/percussion), Axel Bauer (electric guitar/drum machine), Laurent Vernerey & Nicholas Bellanger (bass), Bennett Holland (bgv/keys/piano/organ/Moog), Michael Robinson, Zhane Lanvin, Julie Layse, Jenny Bonneau, Ahmed Mouici, BJ Scott, Chantal & Steve Kashala (bgv), Malcolm Strachan & Athol Ransome (Haggis Horns), Psot Boys (percussion), Bako Mikalian (harmonica), Quentin Bachelet (vinyl scratch/piano), & Mick Ravassat (slide guitar).
CD photo courtesy of Eric Martin & 20pp stitched lyric insert included. CD @ Apple/Amazon & https://www.manulanvin.com/
