Review: Motorhead- The Manticore Tapes

 

Words by Anselm Anderson

Although Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister has been gone for nearly ten years, his legacy continues to thrive. His legendary band, Motörhead, honours his memory with the release of The Manticore Tapes this week.

Motorhead formed in 1975, but it wasn't until 1979 that they released their debut album, Motorhead, with the lineup of Lemmy, guitarist 'Fast' Eddie Clarke, and drummer 'Filthy' Phil Taylor. Before this, the lineup came together in August 1976 to rehearse and record a jamming session to showcase the new members at Manticore Studios in Fulham, London. The home of Emerson, Lake and Palmer hosted the soon-to-be iconic trio as they jammed together for the first time. Those sessions have now been released as the 'Lost' tape this week for diehard fans to listen to what Motörhead sounded like in those earlier days.

The chance meeting with a little-known manager, Frank Kennington,  had a significant impact on the struggling band, capturing their raw power and energy. This collaboration would ultimately mark their name in rock music folklore. The band would adopt the  Manticore—a name derived from a mythical beast in Persian folklore— as their mascot throughout their forty-year history. Longtime collaborator Cameron Webb has now remastered these recordings, allowing fans to enjoy this glimpse into rock 'n' roll history.

Photo courtesy of Sheila Rock

The recordings have a dated, 'live' quality, capturing the band’s true essence as they aimed to create 'loud and fast' rock music at rapid speed. These earlier recordings highlight the band’s enthusiasm for this style, as well as their interest in psychedelic riffs and progressive elements. They often come together to improvise and experiment with new ideas here. Motorhead fans will be surprised to hear how different these three young men sound compared to the dirtier, more aggressive punk sounds of their later career.

The opening track, "Intro," features a jamming session where Clarke and Lemmy exchange blues riffs. This seamlessly transitions into "Leavin' Here," a song influenced by the British pop sound of the sixties, reminiscent of bands like The Kinks and The Rolling Stones. As they play, their chemistry grows, showcasing an increased rhythm and blues influence. This is especially evident in the tongue-in-cheek track "Vibrator," which exudes charm and attitude, with blazing riffs that set the record ablaze. The album builds in confidence and flair, showcasing swinging blues in "Help Keep Us on the Road" and a more subdued soul in "The Watcher."  The release finishes with early demos of "Motorhead", plus instrumentals of "Iron Horse/Born To Lose" and 'Witch Doctor", which would feature on their 1977 debut album.

Motörhead has just released another sample from their extensive back catalogue to keep the band's memory alive. This is a thoughtful gift for fans who are always interested in little insights from a band that is no longer active. However, it would be great to find something new and original for fans to enjoy as well.

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Copyright: Anselm Anderson ©