Listening the fourth album by Man Man you might actually believe, feel, that life is fantastic. They have a glowing positive vibe, a charming perfume of the 60s with nice twist and turns of the 90s authentic indie sounds. Sometimes they sounds like a happy Tom Waits.
Formed in 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Man Man’s frontman is Honus Honus, and its other members are Pow Pow, Chang Wang, Turkey Moth, and Jefferson, all the band uses pseudonyms. They’re known for their multi instrumental style that centers on the piano playing of lead singer/lyricist Honus Honus accompanied by a wide variety of other instruments played by the rest of the band. While on recordings, Honus usually plays piano, during the live shows he uses a Rhodes Piano or a Nord Electro 3. The rest of the band plays clavinet, Moog Little Phatty, sousaphone, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, flute, bass clarinet, drum set, euphonium, Fender Jazz Bass, Danelectro baritone guitar, xylophone, marimba, melodica and various percussive instruments including pots and pans, toy noise makers, chinese funeral horns, spoons, smashing plates, and fireworks.
Man Man – Life Fantastic by antirecords
Man Man released their debut album “The Man in a Blue Turban with a Face” in October of 2004 on Ace Fu Records followed by “Six Demon Bag” released in 2006 which gained positive reviews and during 2007 the band opened for Modest Mouse on several U.S tours, gaining them further public attention. They released their third studio album “Rabbit Habits” on ANTI- in 2008 and performed at numerous festivals including Voodoo Experience, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties in (Camber Sands, UK), Primavera Sound in Barcelona, and the Meredith Music Festival (Meredith, Australia) that same year.
“Life Fantastic” consist in 11 tracks, another colorful and elastic incursion in a spicy, flowing musical world. It’s absolutely charming. Life is fantastic don’t matter what, even when things are not quite perfect or when some things might be tragic.
Man Man – Official Site
Man Man @ MySpace
