Short Reviews [Marc Catley & Geoff Mann - 2023 - "The Pier Show & In Difference"]

Here we have the two albums recorded by Marc Catley and Geoff Mann finally brought together in one set as a definitive edition. Both albums were originally released by Plankton Records in 1988 (‘In Difference’) and 1991 (TOTEOFTPS), before being reissued in 1994, but they have long been unavailable and it is nice to have them here together. Marc Catley recorded his first album, ‘This Is The Birth of Classical Acoustic Rock’, in January 1986 and a review of this appeared in NCM magazine on the same page as a review of Geoff’s ‘I May Sing Grace’. Marc then contacted Geoff, who lived in nearby Salford, and they met up and became friends. Geoff produced Marc’s next EP, ‘The Peel Tower Hop’, which included shorter songs, and Marc often supported Geoff’s rock band The Bond. The result of their friendship was the release in 1988 of ‘In Difference’, a cassette consisting of five songs by Geoff which he considered to be too acoustic for his current band, and four songs by Marc that he had re-written, going for a more progressive sound. The CD also includes all four tracks from Marc’s vinyl EP ‘The Peel Tower Hop’ (one track of which has never been previously released on CD) plus a recently discovered and previously unreleased live recording of a short gig Marc & Geoff performed together at the 1988 Greenbelt Festival in the Musicians Advice/Plankton Records tent on the Fringe – the only time they actually performed together live! Given this is the first album they released together, and probably the more accessible, this is the one I am reviewing first even though for some reason it is the second of the two CDs in this set. For the most part the songs alternate vocals between Marc and Geoff (they rarely harmonise together), and the CD starts with Geoff’s extremely powerful “The Calling”. Geoff provides a hard vocal edge to contrast against Marc’s softness and not only do the vocals show the different approaches of the two artists, but the music definitely reflects it as well. Marc has a subtle approach, with classical nylon-strung guitar, while Geoff seems more at home with contrast and experimentation. There are interesting numbers from each, and although I know Marc released other material in the early 90’s there has not been anything since which is somewhat surprising. “We Are One” is a powering number which has similarities with Roy Harper and is well worth hearing. The live version of “The War Is Won” shows two musicians working well together, with Geoff singing and playing acoustic and Marc providing classical noodlings over the top – this was unrehearsed and part of a four-track gig they played on the spur of the moment after meeting in the Plankton Records tent. ‘The Off The End Of The Pier Show’ was recorded over a two-year period, and is a totally instrumental album. There is a wonderful short story replicated in the booklet, written by Geoff, about the two of them attempting to get a gig on a pier, and then playing on a pontoon instead. All totally fictitious of course, but written with a wonderful humour that brings a smile to the lips. If you count “The River” as three separate songs, there are eight songs on the album with four by Geoff, three by Marc, and one joint effort. According to my review of the time, but it is not mentioned here, is they only play together on two of them as they were recording independently. For the most part they are either joined by Clive Davenport on guitar, synth or drum machine or they are playing totally solo (although flautist Jill Towers and keyboard player Steve Ridley make fleeting appearances). There is a great depth to the album, particularly with the many layering of guitars. In fact, there are many differing styles, and it is possible to discern influences ranging from Mike Oldfield and Tangerine Dream to Pink Floyd and beyond. Geoff’s guitar playing has proved itself to be a real revelation to me, especially on part two of “The River” (entitled “White Water”), but a special mention must be made here of the song that opens side two of the tape. I mean, only Geoff Mann could write a song called “Terence The Termite Stares Down His Underpants In Growing Amusement”! As on the earlier album, Marc provides most of the subtlety and Geoff the harder edge. For an instrumental album it has a surprising amount of differing styles, yet it all manages to work well together and there are parts of it where the style will be instantly familiar to Twelfth Night fans. I must confess it has been some years since I last played these albums, although I still have the Plankton versions, and it is wonderful to have them both available again to a wider public.