K-Scope
	Produced by Phil Manzanera
	Released on 1978
	US CHART POSITION #176
	Find it at GEMM
PD-1-6178 cover [high resolution photo]

I had an idea in my head of what a solo Phil Manzanera album would sound like, and it sounded like this. THIS, in case you’re wondering, is art pop/rock that not only sounds like his various side projects but enlists many of them as well: Roxy Music, Split Enz, Godley and Creme, Brian Eno’s backing band. Roxy fans are likely to have the most interest in Manzanera’s solo career, and yet K-Scope is more likely to please fans of early Split Enz or Godley and Creme. The songs (there are only three instrumentals) feature Tim Finn, John Wetton and Bill MacCormick on vocals (logical deduction tells me that Bill and brother Ian are responsible for the silly lyrics, which are less clever than Eno but in the same bananaland). When Tim’s singing, which is about half the time, it’s hard to escape the Split Enz comparison. Bill MacCormick surprises with two vocals, including the charming “Gone Flying,” while John Wetton (marbles firmly in cheek) is fairly credited with “voices” on “Numbers.” Despite the revolving vocalists, K-Scope remains a consistent listening experience because the same left-of-center principles are at work in every song. While Eno more was more consistently inventive, K-Scope is a better record than G&C’s L, perhaps because Manzanera doesn’t seem to have so large an ego to feed. He sticks to his strength (the lead guitar) and surrounds himself with smart folks who know what to do: Mel Collins, Simon Phillips, etc. Highlights include “Gone Flying,” “Walking Through Heaven’s Door” and the instrumental “K-Scope.” Whether this is the best of the Manzanera solo elpees, well, I couldn’t tell you. However, he deserves a gold star simply for not copping out with an album of instrumental fuzz like Robert Fripp, Andy Summers and the other gauzy guitarists of his generation (although the closing “You Are Here” suggests it may be a suitable destination for PM some day).

PD-1-6178 back cover

TRACK LISTING

1. K-SCOPE    (Phil Manzanera)    4:32
2. REMOTE CONTROL    (Ian MacCormick)    2:36
3. CUBAN CRISIS    (Phil Manzanera/William MacCormick)    6:02
4. HOT SPOT    (Phil Manzanera/Ian & William MacCormick)    5:01
5. NUMBERS    (Phil Manzanera/John Wetton)    3:28
6. SLOW MOTION TV    (Phil Manzanera/William MacCormick/Simon Ainley)    5:31
7. GONE FLYING    (Phil Manzanera/William MacCormick)    4:27
8. N-SHIFT    (Phil Manzanera)    3:12
9. WALKING THROUGH HEAVEN'S DOOR    (Phil Manzanera/William MacCormick)    6:52
10. YOU ARE HERE    (Phil Manzanera)    3:16
    
    CD reissue bonus tracks
    
11. REMOTE CONTROL (LIVE)
12. IT DON'T MATTER TO ME (DEMO)
13. OUT OF THE BLUE (LIVE)

CREDITS

PHIL MANZANERA -- guitars, Farsifas, lead guitars, keyboards, echo guitar, electric piano, Yamaha CS80, synthesizer
BILL MacCORMICK -- bass, backing vocals, vocals, drums
SIMON PHILLIPS -- drums, electric percussion
EDDIE RAYNER -- Yamaha electric piano, upright piano, Moog bass, Bosendorf piano
Simon Ainley -- rhythm guitar
Mel Collins -- saxes, baritone sax, soprano sax
Lol Creme -- Gizmo, backing vocals
Neal Finn -- backing vocals
Tim Finn -- lead vocals
Kevin Godley -- backing vocals, hi-hat (4)
Francis Monkman -- piano (8)
Dave Skinner -- Yamaha electric piano, Yamaha CS80
Paul Thompson -- drums (2,6)
John Wetton -- voices (5)
Greg Jackman -- engineer
Chris Hopper -- cover concept
Cream -- design

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