Best known as one of the founding members of Washington, D.C.’s electro-rock trio
Trans Am,
Phil Manley also pursued other projects. He engineered albums for
Arp,
Mi Ami,
Moon Duo, and
Wooden Shjips, among other acts, and also played guitar with Krautrock worshippers
Jonas Reinhardt. In 2011,
Manley released his solo debut, Life Coach, which was inspired by the “klangfarben” (sound colors) of German record engineer Conny Plank, who recorded with
Kraftwerk,
Popol Vuh, and
Cluster. ~ Heather Phares