The Muffins
Manna/Mirage

THE REVIEW

The Muffins - "Manna/Mirage "

 The Muffins, an American band from Washington, consists of four main members  (bassist  Billy Swan, drummer Paul Sears, Tom Scott  on winds, and Dave Newhouse on keyboards). In this album, there is also the collaboration of other  musicians, including  Doug Elliott on winds and Steve Faigenbaum on guitar.

Their  style includes clear references to the Canterbury school and Rock In Opposition. "Manna/Mirage" was  released in 1978, and it is made up of four instrumental tracks. The first, titled "Monkey With The Golden Eyes," is about 4 minutes long and alternates winds and percussion  in a style reminiscent of some moments in Frank Zappa's "Waka/Jawaka," while the second "Hobart Got Burned," lasts 6 minutes, and is a Free Jazz with echoes of Soft Machine's "Third."

The instrumental and creative skills of The Muffins are evident in the next two lengthy tracks "Amelia Earhart," which alternates Zappa-esque jams with the sonic dadaism of Canterbury, and "The Adventures Of Captain Boomerang," the album's masterpiece representing avant-garde Jazz Rock, a sound collage featuring prominent so-called "musical gags" of winds accompanied by an organ soundscape.

Their style can also be defined as Rock In Opposition which also recalls important bands like Henry Cow; indeed, Fred Frith would later provide further inspirations to The Muffins.

This album is recommended for those who love Rock In Opposition and Progressive with more sophisticated sounds.