SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PHIL MANZANERA & ANDY MACKAY – AM.PM SOHO LIVE

PHIL MANZANERA & ANDY MACKAY
AM.PM SOHO LIVE
EXPRESSION/BFD/THE ORCHARD

When Phil Manzanera and Andy MacKay came together in 2023 and put together the brilliant AM.PM album, no one thought that they would perform live in this configuration, but soon they decided to perform and sold out three nights in Soho, London in March of 2024. AM.PM Soho Live allows those of us who could not attend to hear what went on in the shows. With help from fellow Roxy Music member Paul Thompson and British-Portuguese singer-songwriter Sonia Bernardo. Former Roxy Music member, Anna Phoebe, is on hand to provide excellent violin.

The majority of the material performed came from their AM.PM album, as well as the stand-alone single, “Lady Of The Lake.” The material performed live is absolutely stunning. Manzanera’s guitar playing is flawless (listen to “Blue Skies” or the blistering “Newanna”) and MacKay absolutely dazzles with his saxophone playing. “Lady Of The Lake” is a great example. The pair turns that song into a powerful and emotional moment. Although the material performed live from that album was improvised, it still has sound structure and is an absolute joy in which to listen. “Mat 1” comes alive in a way that it didn’t in the studio. The two playing off each other are just a pleasure to hear. They also sound like they are having the time of their lives.

They also delve into solo Manzanera and Roxy Music and add new twists and new slants on the well-loved music. With the help of Bernardo, they tackle “Out Of The Blue” and “Love Is The Drug.” Phoebe’s violin in combination with MacKay and Manzanera on “Out Of The Blue” is astounding and the song has a very different energy. “Love Is The Drug” is slowed down with a very cool groove and sounds layered into the song. Bernardo’s vocals are perfect and the addition of Thompson gives the song that extra strong beat. The buildup of the song is also spectacular.  But the real treat is the version of “Tara” (from Roxy Music’s last studio album Avalon), which has some incredible violin playing from Phoebe, which turns it into a modern classical song. Her intro with Manzanera is breathtaking and paves the way for MacKay to do what he does extremely well. His subtle and subdued playing which just continues to grow is fantastic.

Manzanera reclaims “No Church In The Wild” (from his brilliant The Sound Of Blue, 2015), which had been sampled by Jay Z and Kanye West. Here, Manzanera turns the song into a rocking number that has that pounding rhythm section and again great vocals from Bernardo. It absolutely comes to life with this performance. “Caracas 1960” (also on The Sound Of Blue) makes a welcome live appearance and, again, the band gives it a little lift from the original.

AM.PM Soho Live is an important album, in that it shows that AM.PM was not a one-off or just an experiment. It is an important work in the history of Roxy Music and solo projects. MacKay and Manzanera have worked together for well over 50 years and this live performance demonstrates the telepathy and support that goes on between them. As a live album, it is as important and good as Roxy Music’s Viva! and 801 Live. This is essential listening.

SPILL FEATURE: LET’S TAKE THIS SOMEWHERE ELSE – A CONVERSATION WITH ANDY MACKAY

Andy MacKay Links

Phil Manzanera Links