One Small Step

Manning | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 2005)
• Original Release Date: October 11, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: ProgRock Records
• ASIN: B000BO9IRQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #718,973 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. In Swingtime

2. Night Voices

3. No Hiding Place

4. The Mexico Line

5. One Small Step…(Parts I-VIII)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Guy has outdone himself with this one, SUBERB! --Tad Gardiner, SDUG, October 2005

Product Description

“One Small Step” is an album that is inspired by the original artwork of Ed Unitsky (Ed has previously provided artwork for The Flower Kings, The Tangent and the last Guy Manning album "A Matter Of Life and Death"). The set of images are wonderful and the conceptual imagination in the accompanying booklet artwork is superb. With songs ranging from the scifi “what if” of “One Small Step” to dream conversations “Night Voices” and real life tragedy “No Hiding Place”, Guy has provided an aural landscape for these amazing paintings that will take you on an amazing journey. Guy, as a multi-instrumentalist, plays most of the instruments himself, but once again, this album features the same core of talented musicians that have helped Guy both craft his music into complete albums and to perform them live (since 2000).

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something Really Special!, January 13, 2006

By 

ProgDad (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Small Step (Audio CD)

Review by Dr D B Sillars (Progressive Ears / Amazon Reviewer)
After last years almost perfect "A Matter Of Life and Death", my expectations for this new album were very high indeed. I really thought that Guy would have a hard job equalling, never mind bettering the quality of songwriting and playing on that disc. But he has and how! Whereas "A Matter of Life and Death" was rigidly structured and very electric, "A Small Step..." is looser and more acoustic. The opener, "In Swingtime" does indeed swing. A rousing start with a typical Manning chorus that is ever so catchy. Laura Fowles sax is a key feature here and of course Guy's distinctive vocal tones are ever welcoming. The following "Night Voices" is achingly haunting, written about a friend but echoes to us all who go through painful personal experiences in life. "No Hiding Place" is the most overtly progressive piece. It has an excellent instrumental section with synths and saxes well to the fore. "The Mexico Line" is another rocker before entering the centrepiece of the album, the 30 minute title track. This ambitious piece is made up of a suite of eight interlinked songs, each one flowing seamlessly from one into the next. As the title suggests this epic composition explores the idea of man looking to the future of travel into space as a potential holiday destination, but are we ready yet. As a race, what baggage would we take with us? Guy uses his trusty acoustic guitar throughout the interlinking songs, keeping the arrangements basic using slight embellishments with mellotron, organ, flute (played by IQ's Martin Orford) and suchlike throughout. It's only when the track reaches the "Black and Blue" section does the full band come in. It's a bold move using such simple, acoustic instrumentation over such a lengthy piece. But Guy's deft handling of the different lyrical themes and strong compositional skills ensure that the listener's attention never wavers. The rich musical themes are what we have come to expect from Guy and "One Small Step..." may be his crowning achievement to date. Special mention must go to cover artist Ed Unitsky. This BeloRussian artist is quickly establishing himself a strong reputation through his sleeves for The Tangent and The Flower Kings amongst others. For this and Guy's previous album Ed's vivid use of colour, typography and images linked to the lyrical content of each song which graces the CD booklet brings to mind the wonder and excitement I remember from youth as I would peruse the gatefold sleeve of a classic album cover by the likes of Roger Dean. This is beautiful, fantastical design which is seen all too rarely today. So all in all this latest album is more than a fitting follow up to "A Matter Of Life and Death". Though Guy Manning is considered to be working within the progressive rock arena, he has clearly shown from this and previous albums that his songwriting is far broader than that genre may imply. His style is now so well defined and he is such a distinctive, intelligent composer and storyteller that his name can be added to that list of maverick British artists who have travelled their own, inimitable path such as Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, John Martyn, Roy Harper and Peter Hammill. He is truly one of the great voices in modern songwriting and should be championed as such. So go on, take that "One Small Step..." and experience something really special. Five stars without hesitation!

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre, August 4, 2006

By 

Morton Nielsen (Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Small Step (Audio CD)

Guy Manning's solo albums are rather different from the other projects he contributes. This is not neo-prog or symphonic per se. It is more acoustic stuff with good melodies and nice vocals. That said I'm not so sure the music has much replay value. It is not bad by any means but it doesn't pull you in either. I've tried a lot to get into this disc and even as I type this I'm not so sure I like it. It's worth a listen though.