FEBRUARY ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Cutting through the relentless stampede of new music promotion and the white noise on social media, Ellis Mano Band drop a truly classy album to take 2025 up a level. An album that reminds us of the enduring primacy of good song-writing, the value of talented musicianship and the cohesive relationship between the music and the art.
‘Morph’ suggests a state of transition or transformation and there is a feeling of a journey with this fine new album – a journey perhaps from darkness towards the light. This new studio album marks an evolution for Ellis Mano Band – their first studio release with a powerful new label and a passionate new manager, there is a sense of directed support now behind the band. And most important, there is musical evolution too. After the refreshingly charming ‘Ambedo’ and the critical depth of ‘Luck of the Draw,’ this new Ellis Mano Band album marks a ‘maturity certificate’ for the band – it’s a clear yet cohesive step forward. The band’s sound has moved on, yet there are clear references back to their early influences. A point of maturity, where the musical DNA of the band is defined and becomes rounded. This is a process drawn on the interplay of talent and experience, the band’s craft shaped by a long run of touring Europe, including reference point dates with Deep Purple last summer.
Adding a dimension to the music, a special word also for the album artwork by Hugh Syme, who will be known to many for his iconic album covers for the likes of Rush, Aerosmith and Bon Jovi. The art on ‘Morph’ captures the essence of the music perfectly – another statement that reminds us how the fusion between the art and the music define what an album as an experience actually should be. In the age of streaming tracks, it’s easy to bemoan the loss of a golden age of physical music. In truth, it’s the bands that hold on to the value of what an album actually is – the creative marriage between music and art – who are the acts that are creating music with lasting legacy. Morph is one of those albums.
The band opens the album with ‘Virtually Love’ – and they immediately hit the deck running with an upbeat, melodic, natural radio hit. It’s not neatly defined classic rock or blues, it stands simply as a good song – and in its heart it conveys new life and hope, a song for spring as nature morphs into a new season of rebirth. A few ‘Na-Na Na-Na’s’ thrown in to keep fans of (Single of the Year) ‘Good To Go’ happy, this songs turns the head in less than three minutes. And a good video too.
‘Count Me In’ is next up – another accessible, well-crafted song that builds well.
Just a few songs in and the track sequence on ‘Morph’ feels more cohesive than earlier albums. After years of writing and touring, there’s a clear a sign of the band reaching that point of maturity as a unit. ‘Morph’ is a assured album, the band are confident in their chemistry, their fluency – who they are, what they’re about and where they’re going.
Another observation; the studio songs on this album are all relatively short. They all flourish and take you on journeys but there’s no need for them to be longer than they are. Throughout the album, musical confidence once again shines through with the band’s sense of control.
‘20 Years’ is a great song – acoustic, atmospheric and with a wonderful lyrical narrative – ‘it’s rose-tinted sunshine for me and you.’ A pervading sense of a nostalgic lament – the guitar playing evokes journeys deep into the soul. And on this album, Edis confirms his signature guitar playing that has evolved from previous albums – sounds that make his guitar playing instantly recognisable and unique to him.
‘For All I Care’ I think we premiered in the UK on the Friday rock show last year – a song that ran from August through to November. A masterfully arranged song, supported by a strong video from the band’s summer festival dates in 2024. Musically, it has a nod to Deep Purple vibes and also to traditional classical blues/rock, but it’s the band’s craft that elevates the track. Tight playing, haunting vocal passages, and flawless execution – a song that marks the arrival of one of Europe’s most accomplished bands of the moment (view video here)
‘Scars’ takes us back to the blues that the band does so well – vibes of Joe Cocker once again from Chris. In contrast to the more polished singles, there’s always a sense of a jam with the band’s more bluesy numbers. A nice thing about the band is they never over play. Sometimes less is more, the sign of accomplished musicians that know what they’re doing.
‘Madness And Tears’ – this is really fun. A rocker, it’s upbeat and empowering. Perhaps a nostalgic nod back to our younger years when we are all fearless rebels. Songs like this make you feel young again – this one is made for summer festivals and I have a feeling rock radio will like it. Hard not to like, an immediate toe-tapper.
‘Ballroom’ takes me back to ‘Luck of the Draw’ and is one of my favourites on this new album. A heartfelt and sincere ballad, the music paints memories from the heart. There’s a lot of lyrical references to light and sunshine throughout the album, the promise of the future – of better days ahead perhaps. The flawless vocal performance is based on its truth; Chris sings from the heart – he’s not a showy singer, he tells stories and he always means it.
‘Stray’ marks the return of the old jazz blues vibe associated so strongly with the band – counterpointed by a great, searching blues guitar solo. An outsider’s song – but a song with hope; ‘looking for a home,’ ‘make a house a home today.’
‘Countdown To Nothing’ is an involved rocker with brooding intensity. An upright song with stature and stark drama. Very retro, classic – but done well.
Sometimes when you see a track title, you get a feeling what it will sound like. ‘State Of Grace’ I thought would be a gentle reflective song, but no, it’s a soaring rock jam. It’s time for Hammond happy-hour and some earthy, guttural guitar riffs. A hint of hope pervades through the drama – ‘When the smoke clears there’ll be a state of grace.’
To close the album there is a wildcard bonus track. A seven-minute opus that didn’t make the band’s live ‘Access All Areas’ album, ‘The Fight For Peace’ is a live track that wraps the album. And it’s not a bad message on which to finish – if you like Ellis Mano Band’s studio recordings, then go and see them live; that’s where the magic is.
In a rock scene where so many releases sound a bit too much like something you’ve heard before – and in the digital age where the chase for numbers and social affirmation often sees business plans come before the primacy of the musical worth, Ellis Mano Band stand tall as a band that are all about the right things. Talented musicians, their passion is to craft their own music identity. They are not the noise makers seeking fame on social media, their wardrobe is unassuming and they have a grounded humility when doing interviews. Yet in an industry of social media noise and bloated hype, Ellis Mano Band let the music do the talking – and with ‘Morph’ it roars assuredly and powerfully like a lion.
Band website and album back catalogue and single/album orders here: https://www.ellismanoband.com/music
Morph on BandCamp https://ellismanoband.bandcamp.com/album/morph
Listen to my interview with the band on the making of ‘Morph’
