MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO OFF-CENTER ALBUM THIRSTY EAR RELEASE: OCTOBER 25, 2005 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 8, 2005

It’s worth noting that Jack Dangers, the man behind Meat Beat Manifesto, has already had a tremendously influential career to date, which seemed to reach its most successfully commercial peak during the mid 90:s. Although he may be less commercially known these days (as in not to be found in the top 40 singles charts), he is still pushing himself into further musical directions, the emphasis on this set being itself largely built around jazz structures.

Less an album – or even an EP – it is more a collection of tracks showing Meat Beat Manifesto at its most, and perhaps least, successful. We have variations on a jazz theme across five tracks – the last track being completely different; a hard electronic live version of ”Prime Audio Soup” (the original featuring on ”The Matrix” soundtrack). It is actually this track that stands out from the rest in this set, as the energy and vitality of the track, as well as the up-for-it crowd jump out of your speakers. Among the jazzier tracks, ”Dummyhead Stereo” is the best of the bunch, having a nice strong groove for the jazz-noodling to ride on top of – unfortunately the others don’t seem to reach the heights of this track, making them appear a little bit unfocused and slightly repetitive.

Not so much an album as a collection of two good tracks, two live tracks, and two tracks that's essentially B-sides. Not the best thing Jack Dangers has done, but interesting enough.

MIKE WHYTE