by Marta Salicrú, Barcelona, Spain

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IN ENGLISH

Canadian by birth and Barcelonan by adoption three years ago, J. Mann embodies what is popularly known as the man and his guitar.

We'll only find a little more than that on "Too Much Theatre" - a dog, a maraca, a first generation Casio with that classic type of 'waltz' rhythm - but this man does not need a lot more to captivate with these 13 pieces, ostentatious only in their simplicity, freshness and delicacy. Because in spite of its title, that arose from how a colleague of the Ural State University in Russia, described his style as a professor, there is not, in fact, neither theatre nor grandiosities on the album, only closeness. This closeness is accentuated by the physical proximity of J. Mann when he sings "This City is to Movie Set," referring without a doubt to Barcelona, but also - and the proximity is psychological, then - when he sings to the dog Meldon "why do you bark at me?" And, Meldon barks.

This is a special offering, in its humility, sincerity and lack of pretensions, and is perfect to disconnect from modern life and the avalanche of groups that each day are supposedly going to change the history of the music. J. Mann is not going to do it, but neither will he try.

Marta Salicrú