Adam Ant – Manners & Physique

In the ten years or so between Adam Ant writing songs with oblique and sometimes disturbing subject matter as found on Dirk Wears White Sox and him releasing Manners & Physique, the transition is startling. Apart from the still to be officially released Persuasion, Manners & Physique is the forgotten Adam Ant solo album. Highly polished and synthesized, the sound and production values are a far cry from the new wave post punk guitars as heard on Dirk or the Marco Pirroni driven spaghetti twang and double drums synonymous with Adam & The Ants' two hit albums. By the time Manners & Physique was released, both mainstream and counter cultural pop had moved on in a myriad of directions, but as ever, Adam Ant could never be accused of chasing musical fashions even if he was working outside of both his comfort zone and the tastes of the majority of his followers. This album didn't enjoy a sustained shelf life but any open minded neutral listener will be surprised at the quality of the pop music on offer, which if you permeate the high gloss sheen, you will find some evidence and echoes of the indiosyncrasies that made Adam Ant a cult hero and mainstream star in the first place.