Lyrics
legacy
can't afford to die
check under the bed
GSOH
spasm of identity

Sound Clips
legacy .wav

Review

"Legacy"

Just as some of us were beginning to fear that British music truly was dead (I blame those fucking awful football songs),
along come Mansun, heads held so high they've got snow on their hair. "Legacy" is a 6 1/2 minute renaissance from Paul
Draper's band of karma chameleons, all wide open spaces of cascading guitar, a mile high tune and fantastic grandeur. As
glamourous a hymn to the futility of human existence ("nobody cares when you're gone") as you will ever hear, this is The
Beatles' Nowhere Man fronting the Manics, singing about the Marquis de Sade and how "all relationships are emptying and
temporary". Hardly "Vindaloo" now, is it?

"Can't Afford To Die" is the first extra track, and with its distorted bass and droning guitar, is the first herald of
Mansun's claimed rockier new sound. A touch new waveish, it still sounds experimental and out-of-time, like the remastered
soundtrack to some movie you saw a long time ago. Next is "Spasm Of Identity", a laid-back almost instrumental shot through
with piercing shards of guitar feedback. A close cousin to some of the doodlings Damon and the Blur boys come out with now
and again, it is not disposable, but neither is it vital. Last on the 1stCD is "Check Under The Bed", an incendiary track
layered with shimmering guitar and a soaring vocal from Paul Draper.

The second CD starts off with a shorter (just) version of "Legacy", then follows with the Perfecto remix of "Wide Open
Space". Whilst the original is close to perfection, this Euro-housey version is also mighty fine, pouring molten steel
over the original and moulding it into a cybernetic simulation of its former self, then setting its controls for the
heart of Ibiza. Next is "GSOH", a rock-pop blast through the personal columns interspersed with (hopefully) dramatised
telephone responses to a classified ad. "Must have a good sense of humour and make me laugh, a PO box number and a
photograph", screams Draper, before exploding into a million pieces. Last is the instrumental "Face In The Crowd", an epic
piece that plays over the end-credits of a fantastic EP. The Sound Of Genius was portrayed by Mansun.

Mansun are named after a Verve song, but make Ashcroft's crew sound positively earthbound in comparison.
Higher than the (man)sun.

Rating: 10/10
--Headcleaner Online

[the discography page]