Brian Eno reportedly described
Man Jumping as the most important band in the world, but his assertion didn't really help these dance-friendly worldbeat minimalists sell records, even as, following the release of their 1985 debut album
Jump Cut on
Bill Nelson's Cocteau label, they moved to the relatively higher-profile EG Records (
Eno's label, by the way) for 1987's
World Service. Keyboardists
Orlando Gough,
Glyn Perrin,
Charlie Seaward, and
Schaun Tozer, bassist/keyboardist
John Lunn, saxophonist/flutist
Andy Blake, and new drummer
Simon Limbrick -- plus nine guests and extraordinary producer/engineer
Philip Bagenal -- had the template established by
Jump Cut firmly in place: a combination of precisely layered
Steve Reich-ian counterpoint with funk, jazz, and dance music stylings and production values aimed at pop/rock audiences. From the very first track of
World Service, however,
Man Jumping seem ready to widen their frame somewhat, as "The Perils of Tourism" mixes brightly punched-up keys, solid yet nimble bass, and Balkan/Middle Eastern-flavored sax over a 12/8 flamenco rhythm. Midway through the six-minute track the music explodes into a break of nearly orchestral proportions and vocalist "
Boris Goodenough" offers up some gruff, throaty declamations, followed by a jagged piano assault as the band churns along with unflagging momentum.