K-Scope

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Like Roxy Music? You'll Like This., 2006-03-02
This is effectively a solo effort (with lots of help from 801 and King Crimson and Roxy alums) from Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera. Is it his best? No-- that's "801 Live." But this album (along with "Listen Now") is close behind, and the two stand-out tracks (Walking Through Heaven's Door Gone Flying) are among the best stuff ever out of the whole Roxy/Ferry/Eno/Manzanera 70s club. Well worth checking out.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Quaint, 2001-06-21
Phil Manzanera defined British rock in the 70s, releasing several albums--most of them very good--while maintaining his status as Roxy Music guitarist. 801 Live and Diamond Head are his high water marks. On K-Scope, the slide that ended with the thankfully short-lived Explorers begins. All the pieces are there (although I was never fond of Tim Finn's voice). There is just no soul. Polite guitar rock by top flight musicians. Perhaps it is the Creme and Godley influence. That said, K Scope isn't all bad. The instrumentals soar, and the songs without Finn as the vocalist are fine...especially Walkin' Through Heaven's Door. Even John Wetton sounds good. That is no small accomplishment.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Nor bad for 1978..., 2000-11-16
Amidst the disco fad and hype it was refreshing to know that some artists were not afraid to try other venues of style or experiment outside of the norm. Case in point is Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music fame. This solo-side project reflects some interesting styles from pop-rock,pre-new wave to one particular track having an almost ska-like life of it's own (pre-dating the sound of the group Sublime). While Remote Control may have less than well thought out lyrics or music,K-Scope, Cuban Crisis, Hot Spot,and others more than make up for it.Do not expect any Love Is The Drug or Avalon musings;this is strictly Phil's turf and time. There is an almost subliminal early Police (Sting) nuance to this project but not enough to garner the award for rip-off.While not a blockbuster it is a more subtle approach and acquired taste that may take a few plays to get used to. Once you like it you will appreciate it more.It's like an intermediate wine;it may take a few sips before it hits (in a good 'ol fashion partying way).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

A Kaleidoscope Of Sound, 2000-05-16
Sadly for Roxy Music fans, Manzanera was pretty much relegated to the role of second banana by the time Avalon hit shelves in the early eighties. Gone were the looping, edgy guitar runs that marked key Roxy tracks like "Both Ends Burning" or "Editions Of You". On this, his third solo disc (fourth if you count 801 LIVE), Manzanera took all sorts of chances and came up with an inventive prog-rock album that sounded fun and varied. From "Walking Through Heaven's Door" (with its "Kashmir"-like construction) to the cheesy Farfisa organ runs on the instrumental title track, the album has a little bit of everything for fans who've come to love the man's guitar work. Simon Phillips' intense drumming on the wistful "Gone Flying" is to-die-for while guest vocalists Tim and Neil Finn add the right amoount of pop fizz. Easily one of his finest and a find for Roxy Music fans with a fondness for cuts like "Out Of The Blue" and "Mother Of Pearl". Recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

badly dated record, 2000-02-16
If you want good pre-Avalon Manzanera get Diamond-Head and stay away from this record unless you like simplistic adolescent lyrics ('slow motion tv') and overly self-serious Geddy Lee-esque vocals (with lyrics triter than Peart's worst). Tim Finn of 'Split Enz' fame (infamy-?-) sings on many of the tracks and is painful to hear. John Wetton contributes one of his trademark Greg Lake vocal impersonations on 'numbers'. Really, the only listenable songs on the record are the instrumentals, 'k-scope' and 'n-shift'. The ultra cheesy production duo Godley and Creme make contributions to several tracks, and the fact that they are invisible here leads one to realize that most of the album is just as cheesy as they are; gorgonzola just can't compete with limberger, can it? In layman's terms, this album sucks; ignore any praise it may receive from essentialist rock critics who got their copies for free and don't care if you blow 14 clams on this slicked-out wank fest.