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V/A - Mana Medicine


bomble

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Guest Psylent Buddhi

I pretty much agree with Bomble. Only I think this compilation is a lot better

than Twisted's Backroom Beats. All the tracks are well chosen, and highlights

include Ott's "Escape From Tulse Hill", Jairamji's "Elephant Waltz" and

Drift's Infusion. L.S.D. does it again! Well done! /Psylent Buddhi

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I would agree that it's better than Backroom beats in so far as the tunes are

more consistently good - I was more drawing comparison to the style chosen

rather than to the absolute quality...

sorry if I didn't make myself clear..

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V/A - Mana Medicine

 

Artist: Various

Title: Mana Medicine

Label: Dragonfly

Date: 2001

 

Track listing:

 

01. 09'05" Jairamji : Elephant Waltz

02. 06'21" Zen Lemonade : Ashanti

03. 05'19" Angel Tears : Ishka

04. 07'28" Ott : Escape From Tulse Hill

05. 07'09" Tripswitch : Shamanic Tea

06. 07'46" Grey : Beard Aushadhi

07. 05'59" Noodreem : Cosmic Jam

08. 08'01" Drift : Infusion

09. 10'09" Lisa Walker : Orcadrift (Turtle Dub Rmx)

10. 05'16" Angel Tears : D'Marot Malach

 

Review:

 

Every now and then someone makes an album out of a compilation. I'm sure you

have all experienced what I mean - it's as if all the artists sat down

around a campfire, looked up at the stars and went away to the studio with

the same inspiration. I suspect what this actually boils down to is that the

compiler had a very clear idea of what sort of sound to create. In any case,

Mana Medicine is an example of a compilation held together by common

threads. And what a beautiful tapestry it is too !

The theme throughout is sophisticated, gentle hooks placed carefully in a

soundscape of natural rhythms and earthy ethnic sounds. This is neither the

mindbending psychoactive style of say Shpongle, nor the deeply mystical

style of the Yeti albums or Padmasana/Makyo but more in the freestyle spirit

of Twisted's Backroom Beats. Very very compelling stuff.

The Jairamji track opens with forest atmosphere and develops with a delicacy

and warmth that anyone who heard them in their previous guise as Swivel

Pigeon would recognise. The tune grows to a splendid culmination of guitars

and breaks - yum! Zen Lemonade immediately take the rhythms deep and clear -

the kind of tune you find yourself swaying to when you're sitting in the

chillspace. Angel Tears (aka Seb Taylor aka Shakta/Digitalis/Somaton) opens

with strings and a toe-thumping bassline leading to a sublime vocal line and

loose Hispanic guitar. Is this man one of the most versatile producers in

Britain today ? I'd say so !

Ott's tune is - if I have to choose one - a highlight. Dub filled, deep,

intricate, tuneful and oh so cool! Plus plenty of psychedelic noising to

fire up the cortex - this is really a joyful journey from start to end.

Tripswitch take us into far off realms with a tribal bassline and a very

catchy electronic melody spiced with Indian vocals.

Greybeard (cowritten by the compiler, Humphrey, and Lawrence) pull out a gem

of highly unusual sounds and rich samples carried on a spacey bass. The tune

evolves in its own time and is nicely elevated by some really tasty guitar

playing and, of course, our old friend Terence.

Noodreem continue the organic tribal feel set down before them, and add a

light-hearted and well placed electronic melody. Drift (aka Adham Shaikh

from Ekko) delivers a typically laid-back blissful tune. It doesn't have

quite the emotive power of his 'Arc en ciel', but it's still great to get

more of his tunes out in the open. Lisa Walker's addition is also delivered

in a totally laid back position - piano and other classical instruments

sneak in wonderfully.

Angel Tears finishes with another guitar jam and their quintessential

floating vocals. Rich in emotion, skilled and just generally lovely - a

perfect sensual ending.

I know I've probably said far too much about this album already, and of

course the best thing to do is to just buy the thing and find out for

yourself, but Mana Medicine just goes on to confirm L.S.D's position as one

of the leading downtempo labels. And showing that there are a lot of artists

out there who know how to do this kind of thing when they are given an

outlet.

8/10

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Guest Flying Kundalini

agree totally with the aboves - very soothing collection of quality ambient

tuneage..:-) for me the highlights are Zen Lemonade, Angel Tears and Ott. As

good as Backroom Beats, no better no worse.. 8/10

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  • 4 weeks later...
Guest [Anonymous]

mana means state of mind. spanned by thougts, ideas, vertuality. the state that

can phisically and possibly make your body float in air or control the whole

universe. Mana.

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Guest -Shroom-

Angel Tears track "D'maot Malach" is one of the beautiful tracks ever created.

it took my breath away... it still does everytime i hear it... oh my...not

enough words to describe this masterpiece.

As for the rest of the comp, great. Very creative, emotional compilation. 9/10

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