Manakin
In The Desert [album]
“Sometimes
it isn’t
enough just to be
able to launch a music career —
sometimes the talent is so big that
it
cannot fail to get you noticed.
And Manakin’s
debut album In The
Desert is undeniably deserving
of recognition...”
FROM THE OPENING CHORDS and the alluring and unusual voice of lead singer
Shake to the closing notes, Manakin has got it right on all fronts. The band's
In The Desert is full of hot and exotic-infused melodic hard rock —
and this debut album is a testament to the fact that they have what it takes
to reap their just rewards.
Due for release on August 25 (2008) on RMD Records and distributed by Shellshock/
Pinnacle, In The Desert is a mesmerising musical riot of tracks that
just keep on getting better — a magnificent offering that looks set to
elevate the band into the upper echelons of the rock world.
Manakin is a four-piece band headed by none other than gifted and passionate
singer/ songwriter Sheikh Hassan Bin Rashid Al Khalifa of Bahrain — or,
rather, 'Shake' to his friends. He is joined by ex-Neneh Cherry band guitarist
Charlie Casey, bassist Russell Milton and drummer Ian Markin.
While studying in the US, Shake became fascinated by artistes such as Aerosmith,
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Dave Mathews Band — and it was his respect
for and his enthusiasm about this style of music that spurred him to his ambition
to dedicate himself to rock music.
Shake has always been a maverick child, but when he chose to go down the Rock
'n' Roll road he was seriously at risk of being ostracised by his family in
Bahrain. But once they realised how much his music meant to him, Shake's musical
career was accepted.
Having relocated to the Rock 'n' Roll capital of the world — London —
Shake began to look seriously at forming his own band. Recruiting through the
usual small ads in the music press, Manakin was born as first Russell, then
Ian and finally Charlie joined, late in 2007.
Cutting their teeth on gigs supporting Under The Influence Of Giants in the
US and then Tommy Lee in Bahrain, Manakin stayed in the desert kingdom while
they wrote and demoed songs destined for the album In The Desert —
drawing, we assume, inspiration from the exotic land with its wide open spaces.
When Manakin returned to the UK, the boys were armed with a holster full of
songs and dug themselves in at London's Livingstone Studios with producer Nick
Caffrey to work on In The Desert. The result is a classy collection of
classic, timeless, rock-oriented songs powered by Shake's unique, wide-ranging
vocals.
Gun, one of the album's distinctive tracks, is to be released as a single in
September and a video has already been filmed in preparation. Manakin has recently
been giving the album an airing live on the road in South Africa and the band
is also lining up a London club gig for early September.
Manakin likes to keep you on your toes. From the outstanding Gun —
that makes you want to listen to every chord and digest every word from its
magical beginning to its very end — through to The Day, In The
Desert is a magnificent offering of emotions that has an amazing affect
on the listener.
You just feel all relaxed with Travel Man when you are abruptly 'Shake-en'
out of your reverie with the foot-stomping You And Me; only to be given
a lethal injection with Heart Attack before being completely lost to
the addiction of Manakin and In The Desert. The rousing Play On
and beautifully-composed Oh Lord does nothing to prepare you for the
startling The Day — the heart-stopping final track that lives and
breathes Shake's magnificent heritage. Get me to the desert!
• Manakin's creditable debut album In The
Desert will be released on 25 August (2008).
Tracklisting — 1 Drug I Want | 2 Gun | 3 She Gonna
Kill Me | 4 Toast | 5 Travel Man |
6 You And Me | 7 Heart Attack | 8 In The Desert | 9 Play
On | 10 Oh Lord | 11 Double Take | 12 The Day
Check out manakin.info and
myspace.com/manakinspace.
"Manakin likes to keep you on your toes. From the outstanding Gun —
that makes you want to listen to every chord and digest every word from its
magical beginning to its very end — through to The Day, In The
Desert is a magnificent offering of emotions that has an amazing affect
on the listener" — MotorBar
