Bird Journey/Here I Am/Rainy May/This Can’t Be Real/Dark Lady/House Of Mirrors/To A Lonely/Strange/Next Number/Sunday Noon
Self titled debut album from the Philadelphia progressive rock group Mandrake Memorial. Their use of electronic harpsichord gave them a highly distinctive sound.
“The interplay between the amplified harpsichord and electric guitar is worth the price of admission alone. There is no gap between the tracks so a seamless dance spins hypnotically through a variety of moods and tempos. Chord progressions and musical structure sound a bit simplistic and dated on this first outing, but nothing grates and the vocals are silky and soothing. The musicianship is excellent though slightly constrained in the studio.”
“This debut is their poppiest and most accessible. Great use of keyboards, imaginative guitar playing ensures a good standard is maintained throughout. Classy and refined would be an accurate description of these guys and their music.”
“This album is certainly their most innocent sounding project, but it is so well crafted throughout that it is a true gem. There are moments of brilliant dreamy pop psych that keep me reaching for this album time after time. Rainy May will stop you in your tracks. Guitar and electric harpsichord interplay, plus well crafted time changes, make this album a unique journey.”
“Very non-commercial pop, with a sombre/dreamy sound throughout, much of their material is heavily lyric dependent. Unfortunately, the near constant use of electric harpsichord is quite distracting, and ruins any serious psych sound that may be present. The overall impression is very one dimensional, with little variation in mood, dynamics or excitement.”
“Psychedelic and progressive with a very prominent harpsichord, Mandrake Memorial were trailblazers for their time. The lead vocalist was rather bland, and their songs were tightly structured with very little hook. Yet there is something appealing in this period piece. First of all the musicianship is first rate and all the instruments are given plenty of opportunity to develop. Some passages include a droning sitar but they are effective in their setting.”
No comments:
Post a Comment