Over the past years, you’ve heard Malibu’s remixes for Soulwax’s breakout single, “2 Many DJs,†Air’s “Kelly Watch The Stars,†Beck’s “Sexx Laws,†Felix Da Housecat’s “Silver Screen (Shower Scene)†and many others; Jamiroquai, The Doobie Brothers, Arling & Cameron, Fantastic Plastic Machine and even Melissa Etheridge. HOWEVER; very few realize that Malibu is none other than Roger Joseph Manning Jr., long-time Beck and Air collaborator and co-founder of Jellyfish, The Moog Cookbook, Imperial Drag and TV Eyes.
It’s not hyperbole to say that Roger is one of the most in-demand keyboard players in the world. His list of album credits reads like a who’s who of pop music: Jay-Z, Green Day, Johnny Cash, Beck, Air, Sheryl Crow, Ringo Starr, Fiona Apple, Fischerspooner, Dixie Chicks, Shakira, Blink 182, Ladytron, Neil Diamond, Morrissey, Paris Hilton, Ziggy Marley, Nikka Costa, Talib Kweli and the list doesn’t end there.
Perhaps best known as Beck’s keyboard player, Roger has also toured and recorded with Air. You can see him in Mike Mills’ beautiful documentary about Air’s 2002 tour “Eating, Sleeping, Waiting, Playing.†After Jellyfish, The Moog Cookbook and recording the now-classic “Logan’s Sanctuary†with Brian Reitzell (music supervisor for all of Sofia Coppola’s films), he formed TV Eyes with Reitzell and Jason Falkner. In 2006, the trio released their self-titled debut album. Fans will happy to note that Falkner and Reitzell also appear on the new Malibu album. In 2006, Roger released a collection of songs from his Jellyfish days, “Solid State Warrior,†which is now available through Warner/Ryko.
We’re now blessed to be releasing Malibu’s “Robo-Sapiens,†a synth-filled journey through Roger’s many inspirations; from Giorgio Moroder to Kraftwerk, Herbie Hancock, Gary Numan and Thomas Dolby. As much a dancefloor rocker as a headphone trip, Robo-Sapiens shows off Roger’s coveted synthesizer collection in all its glory and his masterful touch at bringing new influences to pop music.
