Man-Made

Simple, romantic pop from this enduring Scottish band. Lush, gentle, intense, and timeless. Male harmony vocals. Mostly guitar-based, plus piano, organ, and strings. Recorded by Tortoise’s John McEntire in Chicago; he plays some piano here. More than their other LPs, this one celebrates The Byrds & Motown pop/soul. Trademark TF: intensely romantic, perfect pop arrangements and clever turns of phrase, heavenly harmonies, and a very refreshing couldn’t-give-a-crap attitude about following mainstream, indie, or underground trends. There’s no anger and little angst here (they once wrote ‘rebellion is a platitude’) so if you want that, look elsewhere. Mid-tempo unless noted. No FCCs. All songs excellent. Start with 1, 7, 11.

==> 1. Bouncy Zen pop. “I was like a wave. I didn’t show emotion. I was a hundred years upon the ocean.”
2. A bit more rock than pop... noisy guitars, insistent snare, but still TF’s trademark gentle vox and melodies. About life & love vs. death. Acoustic (guitar & strings) bridge. “There is more to life than I aim for.”
3. Sing-song melody, contrasting chorus, and Dean-Wareham-like lyrics make this song very cinematic, somehow. Slows a bit at end.
4. Lazy/suspended feel. “Always on the outside, hoping for some insight.”
5. High-energy, mid-fast. About nostalgia and about forgetting things. Ends suddenly.
6. Exceedingly gentle love ballad. Piano (played by John McEntire), jazzy guitar, and organ. Lovely, sparse, protracted solo piano ending.
==> 7. Quiet rock ballad with a dark folk feel -- about falling apart, heading toward death. “I have no fear but I’m not brave.” Starts & ends with solo acoustic guitar.
8. Up-tempo, features unison twin lead guitars. “I feel what I know and I know what I feel.” About heartbreak & acceptance. Ends with repeating, fading “Feel the sunshine.”
9. Loud-ish guitar intro gives way to prominent organ and swaying ’70s pop.
10. Sounds very much like The High Llamas circa Gideon Gaye -- mixed with The Byrds. Beautiful.
==> 11. Retro psych trance/dance rock... celebrating The Byrd’s psychedelic side. Starts with a bit of insect-like percussion.
12. Quiet denouement/lullaby. “Don’t hide who you are/decide where you are.” Nice splash of noise guitars for chorus.