London based psych collective Mandrake Handshake reaches for the stars on their Earth-Sized Worlds album by way of playing "Flowerkraut", as they prefer to call it themselves. Final destination: Space Beach, a place where the laws of physics do not necessarily apply. A lot of the songs were already sent into the world as singles, so a proper sequencing of already familiar songs amidst the other tracks was near the top of their "to do" list. They got it right by kicking off with Time Goes Up, a call to arms of sorts for what they have in store. Also: kudos for having the guts to do an actual intro, something that is frowned upon by algorithm honchos who want an act to come straight to the point and start singing from the get go.
With elements of bossa nova, a bit of funk, jazz and freewheeling psychedelic pop, the band will strike a chord by fans of Gong, Hawkwind. Feel at ease at Lorenzo's Desk, as the vocals swirl around as the musical equivalent of looking through a kaleidoscope. Try to make sense of the nonsensical words of Barranmode, following the tradition that was started by writers like Lewis Carroll. Earth-Sized Worlds is an album that offers a gateway to alternate realities, where dreams are real and reality itself is fluid like a trippy 60s light show.
Mandrake Handshake:
Row Janjuah: lead guitar, vocals
Trinity Oksana: lead vocals
Elvis Thirlwell: percussion
Joe Bourdier: drums
Rudy Mae Symonds: backing vocals
David Howard-Baker: saxophone, flute, keys
Moogieman: modular synth, keys
Charlie Arrowsmith: rhythm guitar, comet
Jake Kavanagh: bass
Earth-Sized Worlds is released via Tip Top Recordings (vinyl, CD, digital).
Tracks:- Time Goes Up
- Hypersonic Super-Asterid
- Charlie’s Comet
- The Change And The Changing
- Lorenzo's Desk
- King Cnut
- Barranmode
- Find The Tree And Dig (Deep)!
- Earth-Sized Worlds
- 02/21 Banquet Records, Kingston
- 02/22 Jacaranda, Liverpool
- 02/23 Wax and Beans, Bury
- 02/24 Truck Store, Oxford
- 02/25 Resident Records, Brighton
- 02/28 No90 - Hackney Wick, London
- 03/29 Ritual Union Festival, Bristol
- 05/04 City Sound Festival, Liverpool
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