Mandragora are an English space rock/world dance music band from Brighton, England, whose
formative output can be described as psychedelic rock with ethnic sounds and tribal rhythms. Formed in 1983, the band have released 5 albums of their own, and a collaborative album with Phil Thornton. They built up a loyal following on the free festival circuit of the 1980s and 1990s, and were signed to Delerium Records. In recent years Mandragora have evolved into a world music/electronic dance act featuring singers and musicians from all corners of the globe.
Mandragora began life as a Hawkwind influenced psychedelic rock band formed by Simon Williams in 1983. They played gigs and festivals around the UK including the Stonehenge Free Festival of 1984. Their first album was a self-financed cassette only release called Something Missing. In 1983 Simon
Williams saw a performance by innovative New Age synthesizer pioneer, Phil Thornton at a festival in Sussex and after the show the two met. So in 1988 when Mandragora were asked to open for Hawkwind on their UK tour, Phil Thornton was invited to play synths with the band. With improvisation a key component of Mandragora's live concerts, Phil, with his Moog synthesizer and samplers, gave them a much more sophisticated sound.
Two studio albums ("Head First" and "Earthdance"), a live album ("Temple Ball") and a collaboration with Phil Thornton on his solo album "While The Green Man Sleeps" followed to critical acclaim. The release of the band's most recent album, "Pollen", in 1998 saw them shift into a more dance orientated
direction, encompassing elements of dub, psy-trance and Celtic music. They drew on both traditional world musical styles and the mechanisms of the psychedelic dance scene. Original members Simon Williams and Phil Thornton are back performing live again as Mandragora after several years concentrating on studio projects, producing other artists and performing live with other acts as well as recording musicians all over the globe!"
ALBUMS
1988 Over the Moon - LP/CD (Babbleon Records) (CD re-released on Delerium Records has three extra tracks)
1991 Head First - LP/CD (Resonance Records) (CD re-released on Delerium Records has three extra tracks)
1992 Earthdance - LP/CD (Mystic Stones)
1994 Temple Ball - LP/CD (Mystic Stones)
1998 Pollen - CD (Delerium Records)
With Phil Thornton
1993 While the Green Man Sleeps - LP/CD (Mystic Stones)
MANDRAGORA - EARTHDANCE 1992
Mandragora originate sounds that draw on both traditional world musical styles and the mechanisms of
the psychedelic dance scene. African and Egyptian styles are layered with hard techno trance and breakbeat rhythms, no musical genres are excluded. The Mandragora sound defies category. Hi-tech studio techniques, traditional instruments and real musicianship are at the core of the band as they take dance music to breathtaking new heights.
Mandragora – Earthdance
Label: Mystic Stones – RUNE LP13, Mystic Stones – RUNE 13
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Ethnic, Electronic
SIDE ONE
01. Sometimes
Bass Guitar – Niall Hone
Vocals – Tim Fish
02. Earthdance
Bass Guitar – Niall Hone
Didgeridoo – Darren
Drums – Tamlin Wiltshire
Vocals – Tim Fish
03. Xylem
04. Zarg
Bass Guitar – Alan Jenkins
SIDE TWO
01. The Great Rubbing Of Parts
Bass Guitar – Alan Jenkins
Drums – Nav Malik
Saxophone – Richard Measey
02. Factory In The Jungle
Bass Guitar – Alan Jenkins
Drums – Nav Malik
03. Around The World (Live)
Bass Guitar – Alan Jenkins
Drums – Nickelby Hunt
Synthesizer – Nick Colegrave
LINE - UP
Bass Guitar – Niall Hone
Vocals – Tim Fish
Didgeridoo – Darren
Drums – Tamlin Wiltshire
Bass Guitar – Alan Jenkins
Drums – Nav Malik
Saxophone – Richard Measey
Drums – Nickelby Hunt
Synthesizer – Nick Colegrave
Producer, Mixed By, Guitar, Guitar [Synth], Synthesizer, Sampler, Vocals – Simon Williams
Producer, Mixed By, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Sampler – Phil Thornton
MP3 @ 320 Size: 94 MB
Flac Size: 252 MB
PHIL THORNTON WITH MANDRAGORA - WHILE THE GREEN MAN SLEEPS 1993
The Green Man Sleeps is a mixed release. The first two tracks are from a concert in Scotland circa 1987.The remaining 3 tracks are newer recordings. The final track 'Rainbow Chant' is nearly 25 minutes, and is worth the price of admission alone. Phil Thornton is the main man behind Mandragora
and they were one of the great UK festival psych bands. And while this goes under the Phil Thornton name, most of Mandragora is on it, and it sounds like a Mandragora album. Or perhaps a more electronica version of the band, something the group eventually moved to anyway on their 1998 opus Pollen. This particular release reminds a bit of Ship of Fools actually, given the relaxed nature and flow of the music. Hard to find nowadays, but well worth the effort if you're so inclined.
Phil Thornton With Mandragora – While The Green Man Sleeps
Label: Mystic Stones – Rune CD15
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1993
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock
TRACKS
01. Sirocco 4:16
02. The Penny Drops 4:33
03. Xylem 7:00
04. Inside The Crystal Circle 4:45
05. Dream Catcher 6:22
06. Rainbow Chant 24:45
LINE - UP
Acoustic Guitar [6 String], Acoustic Guitar [12 String] – Ian Barnet (tracks: 2)
Didgeridoo – Steven Cragg (tracks: 5)
Electric Guitar – Simon Williams (tracks: 3, 4, 6)
Electric Guitar, E-Bow, Recorder, Synthesizer [Moog], Synthesizer [Wavestation], Synthesizer [M1], Synthesizer [Modular-synth], Sampler, Rainstick, Sequenced By, Producer – Phil Thornton
Fretless Bass – Alan Jenkins (tracks: 6), Grant Young (tracks: 1)
NOTES
Original Version of track three from "Earthdance" by Mandragora.Tracks one and two re-mixed and re-arranged from live multitrack recording of "Forever Dream" Summer Solstice Concert,Universal Hall,Findhorn,Scotland,1987.
MP3 @ 320 Size: 121 MB
Flac Size: 275 MB
MANDRAGORA - TEMPLE BALL LIVE '94
A step on from their previous release Earthdance, Temple Ball Live ’94 is a live excursion that captures
the excitement of their neo-psychedelic tribal music. The opening tune is an energetic instrumental hybrid of wailing guitar synths, polyrhythms, and Arabic chanting. As the energy fades Mandragora treats us to an extended B-movie alien invasion soundtrack as an introduction to "Zarg" from Earthdance.
"Zarg" is faithful to the studio recording but delivers a stronger punch. Closing out side one is another
lively instrumental with a fantastic bass solo. Side two opens with a song that I call "Tomorrow’s Dream" because of the lyrics. This song, as well as the third song on Side two, is a supersonic freak out sure to please Hawkwind lovers.
The remaining music explores quieter electronic realms with the ending song being another bass and synthesizer adventure of cosmic proportions! Mandragora’s performance is superb and shows that they are peers with that hottest of neo-psychedelic bands Ozric Tentacles. By all means seek out this band and their music. Mandragora is a band that deserves to be saved from obscurity!
Mandragora - Temple Ball Live '94
Label: Mystic Stones – Rune CD14, Mystic Stones – Rune 14
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1994
Genre: Rock
Style: Space Rock, Psychedelic
TRACKS
01. Temple Ball 11:09
02. Dr Temples Abduction 1:26
03. Zarg 4:58
04. Talking To God (Part IV) 7:29
05. This Is... 3:52
06. Jazz Message From The Mothership 7:45
07. Inside The Crystal Circle 3:47
08. Null Gravity Generator 2:56
09. Rainbow Warrior 5:25
NOTES
Co-producer – Phil Thornton
Engineer – Steve Hoff
Producer – Mandragora
Recorded live in The Crystal: Feb '94.
Morphed, mixed and compiled in Expandibubble.
Distributed by Revolver/Vital.
Again something i don't know, scandal. It costs money. Amazing how hard you are at work. THANK YOU !
ReplyDeleteI'm currently listening throught the 6 cd box by BEDLAM.
Actually the band only made one lp (1973). Dirty good sound typical of the first half of the 70s as i like it. Amazing again and again how good the bands were live back then, even better than in the studio. I like it better than BLACK SABBATH, with whom you often performed together and were overshadowed by them. Black Sabbath who doesn't know them and how succesful but who does know BEDLAM ?
Bedlam was the first Rock discotheque in Athens (1974), near my house.
Delete"Rising above Bedlam" is a great album by Jah Wobble. You can find it in the blog and if you don't have it, buy it now.
I must have overlooked in your blog. Can be had cheaply. Thanks for the tip.
DeleteYesterday an interview in IT'S PSYCHEDELIC BABY MAGAZINE about BLUE ASH. Wonderful early 70s Power Pop !
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Power Pop belongs today:
The Last - look again the 2nd unreleased lp from 1980. Fantastic. And
The Smithereens the lost album
Also GREAT. ( From Smithereens i think i have more than 40 cd).
The Montragora are not mine after a short listen. But not that they are bad.
i agree completely, a band that needs to be heard, i uploaded some live audio from club dog here https://youtu.be/NI_EunLc28Q
ReplyDelete