Manarays Debut Album

Published

11-5-2020

Type of Work

Creative Work - Music

Advisors and Contributors

Adrian Carroll - Vocals & Guitar Micky Scott - Drums, Percussion Phil Dunlea - Bass, Backing Vocals, Percussion Chris Fletcher - Vocals Sly Faulkner - Vocals on Comin' Home, Backing Vocals Recorded & Mixed by Laz at La La Land Studios Production Assistant - Rachel Bosch Produced by Adrian Carroll Mastered by Mikey Young Artwork by Diane Morris

Project Affiliation

Released on 12" by Swashbuckling Hobo Records (SH038)

Abstract

Guitarist and songwriter Adrian ‘Killer-guitar’ Carroll and drummer Micky Scott cut their teeth in seminal Sydney punk band, Splatterheads. Now, however, they can both be found loitering in Brisbane suburbia, performing in a tight-knit quartet, called ManaRays. Moulded on Carroll’s pumped-up Detroit style, the band’s live performances often enter into uncharted, intense detours from the written compositions. Carroll’s guitar playing is peppered with manic, virtuosic soloing, and bunches of well-heeled chops, while often throwing in an improvised, melodic guitar line, or spitting out a quirky instrumental heavy blues jam. Lyrically, the band drifts aimlessly from bubblegum pop, to romantic epics, to poetic expressions of spiritual enlightenment. Carroll’s high-pitched, crackling voice is reminiscent in its vulnerability of early Tom Verlaine.

Micky Scott’s, unpredictable, jazzy interpretations of the songs adds an indescribable but refreshing bent to the beat, seemingly from another world. Phil Dunlea (of Guilt Edge, Riff Raff, Incognito and Black Diamond amongst others) spent years playing bass in Brisbane originals and cover bands. His confidence and rock-solid playing buoys the ensemble through awkward swerves into chaos, and his assured backing vocals fuse the group into a formidable expression of modern post-punk. John Hammond brings the extra dimension of keyboards to ManaRays guitar driven rock, adding a variety of tones ranging from acoustic and electric pianos to Lord inspired hard rock organs. He spent his early years playing in Guilt Edge, Excalibur, Black Diamond to follow a career in the real world before being drawn back again to side with Phil Dinlea in a number of lineups.

ManaRays are a refreshingly high energy mutant blues/rock outfit. They’re passionate about their punk rock roots, incubated in the intimacy of Brisbane’s late 70s and early 80s punk scene. Their self-titled album on Swashbuckling Hobo Records features the lead vocals of two other Splatterheads, the dual/alternating frontmen, Christo Fletcher and Sly Faulkner, making the record a must-have, and one sure to go down in the annals of independent Australian rock classics. ManaRays are highly entertaining, delivering generous amounts of high energy punk rock’n’roll, sentimentality, good old-fashioned fun, and the occasional sly wit.

ManaRays are; Adrian Carroll – Vocals/Guitar, Micky Scott – Drums/Percussion, Phil Dunlea – Bass/Vocals and John Hammond – Keyboards/Vocals.

Notes

1. Don't Be Late 02:19 2. Manaray 02:27 3. Domino 02:20 4. Dream Baby 02:27 5. Monster 03:53 6. She Flew 02:28 7. Show Opener 01:51 8. Comin' Home 02:46 9. Troubled By The Moon 03:08 10. She Dance 04:19 11. Split In Twain 02:11 12. Gone Away 03:47 13. Toes At The Gate 02:40 14. Blues In E 01:23

Citation

Carroll, A. (2020). Manarays debut album, Manarays (Vinyl Record). Swashbuckling Hobo Records, SH038.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS