Review, NST May 22 1999

++++
HALF MAN
The Complete Field Guide For Cynics

What a classic!

My, my, my! What an album! The heaviest groovy rock so far this year. By the veteran band Half Man from �rkelljunga formed 13 years ago. Life is full of pleasant surprises, and I can say that I would never have believed that I would be delighted at a band from �rkelljunga.

But Half Man is worth all praise, for the band has created a real classic album in the genre of heavy blues rock. Moreover, it is well worked out in every detail from the characteristic sound of the seventies to the psychedelic cover. I am very impressed by the fact that it is possible to record this sound at a modern recording studio in 1999. There is such a warm tone in the music and it is free from the stereotyped cold and rather synthetic sound that has spread among many heavy rock productions in the last few years. Retro-right as trend oracles say. And I praise the new studio Hitparade in �rkelljunga.

Half Man are guys that no doubt have listened to bands like Black Sabbath, Mountain, Canned heat, Grand Funk Railroad, Rory Gallagher and Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush ("Home For Two" could have been taken from any Marino record).

However, from all influences, they have also managed to create a style of their own, and the album is rich in passion and ardour. These are musicians who love what they are doing. Just listen to the frantic swing in "Two Perverted Men In The Swamp". I am sold on Jan Bengtsson�s powerful voice.

"The Complete Field Guide For Cynics" (wonderful title!) contains twelve tracks, five of which are covers. Some of them have been on the repertoire for long, like for example Alex Harvey�s "Shake That Thing", while their version of PJ Harvey�s "Hardly Wait" is of recent date. In addition to these, their version of Chicken Shack�s "When The Train Comes Back" is wonderful, not to mention Bloodwyn Pig�s "Ain�t Ya Coming Home, Babe?".

If there is anything in connection to this to complain about, it must be that Half Man is not performing at Sweden Rock festival this year. They would have fit like a glove.

Now, see to that your local record store orders the album or go to the band�s home page (www.mkdata.se/usr/patric.carlsson). This record is worth the extra trouble.

Stefan Lindqvist

Translated by
Pia Boiardt