Mansun Retold. Paul Draper

Paul Draper? The name absolutely did not ring a bell, but I assumed that he will have been the man singing in the U.K. Britpop band Mansun. Looking it up, I found two albums in my record collection. I could not have produced the titles, had my life depended on it. They are 'Attack Of The Grey Lantern' (1997) and 'Six' (1998). One more album (and a posthumous one) and Mansun was over in 2003.

What I do remember, is liking that debut album a lot in 1997. When did I play it last? One time in the past ten years, I'd say. And 'Six'? maybe once after buying it. For almost everyone around the world, this will be the same. In the U.K. this could be different, as bands like Mansun were far bigger there than on the continent. Following still may be more fanatic today. But still, why an album retelling Mansun? I really don't know. Probably because there already is a 20 years anniversary album from 2017, with no less than fifty (!) songs on it.

Having listened to parts of Mansun Retold twice, I have to say that the songs I hear on the album are okay. It is certainly nice to listen to and Paul Draper's voice is still pleasant, but I already have a Mansun album. So, I decided to pull 'Attack Of The Grey Lantern' out of its hiding place instead.

The album in 2026 is 29 years old and yes, you notice it. Unlike other forms of music from 1990s, it sounds dated. The soft-Britpop niche Mansun was in has not been revisited (so far). Where Mansun got a part of its mustard shows in abundance. 'Taxloss' combined Suede with 'Taxman' and 1980s synthpop like Howard Jones or Ultravox. The song has drive and is less atmospheric than the songs that I think of, if I would ever have thought of Mansun in the past years that is. That are the opening songs on the album.

Just listen how the album opens. With strings as if Mansun has just released the latest James Bond soundtrack with a little help from The Verve. It is daring though to open your debut album with close to two minutes instrumental music. Draper is making a stand in 'The Chad That Loved Me' (James Bond anyone?) The 'Chad' is, I suppose, guitarist Dominique Chad. Who plays the lead guitar, I don't know, but it is the second oomph in the song. It resonates nicely with a louder song like 'She Makes My Nose Bleed' further down the album.

Mansun, yes, after Charles, is able to produce suger-coated pop music and still sound convincing for several songs. A whole album? No, I do not get through either Retold nor 'Attack ...' all in one go. To put it on every once in a while, for that it certainly is nice enough. The only problem is when you have thousands of albums in whatever form (this one is on cd), chances are something far more popular will always be selected first.

Of course, I wish Paul Draper all the success in the world with him re-imagining his own music in 2026. He has every right to do so. Those who are not familiar with the original albums, this album is as good a place to start as any. In the meantime, I'm quite contend listening to 'Wide Open Space' once again, certainly one of my favourite Mansun songs. Without Mansun Retold that would have taken a lot longer.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Mansun retold here:

https://pauldraper.bandcamp.com/album/mansun-retold