MP3 The Mandrake Project - A Favor to the Muse

The Mandrake sound is characterized by unpredictable and eccentric investigations into jazz, classical, world-beat, psychedelic and ambient rock. The music is entirely self-reliant with vocal absence, and heavy layers of rhythm and soundscape.

11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Instrumental Rock, NEW AGE: Ambient



Details:
ITâS MANDRAKE.


So what exactly is the MANDRAKE PROJECT? People ask all the time. Aside from the fabled magic root, popular 60's comic magician, and computer operating system, the project exists as an eccentric âmusiciansâ collectiveâ from Pittsburgh, Pa. This 6-piece band (of sorts) is composed of strange visitors, current (and past) members from several Pittsburgh bands as well as members of other interesting and influential bands such as: (THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, THE OUTSIDE ROYALTY, THE BOOGIE HUSTLERS, JENS LEKMAN, VIETNAM, SOMA MESTIZO, BEAM, JON CHECK, HALOâS GRACE,
LUSHWELL, ...with more appearing all the time.) The bizarre common thread among members is most certainly the projectâs repertoire. Each memberâs scope of interest varies widely. There is no common goal for a sound, as the âMandrake Soundâ can take on many aspects of many styles while maintaining cohesion. Surprisingly, it all sounds like Mandrake regardless of the genre mish-mashing and member sharing. Even more puzzling is exactly whose playing what, and when theyâre playing it. The members tend to switch instrumentation within or between song structures creating a barrage of dynamic sonic interplay. Staple Mandrake sound is based largely around RHYTHM. The project relies heavily on drumming and percussion, sometimes with all 7 members convening to participate in group percussive numbers. The normal Mandrake setup exists with 2 drum kit players, 2 guitarists, violin, bass, Chapman Stick, and sampling/sequencing. This however, is subject to change at any given second. Letâs now introduce the gentlemen responsible for all this cacophony:

Kirk Salopek- Guitars, Gadgets, Loops, Percussives.
David Chapman Jamison- Drums, Chapman Stick, Moog, Percussives.
Ryan (Science) Meals- Guitars, Saxophone
Anthony âDr. Pâ Pecora- Bass Guitar, Drums, Percussives.
Benjamin Zerbe- Drums, Percussives.
Rick Nelson- Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Auxiliary Implementation.


After a few demonstration recordings the month of May, 2005 began work on the first full length Mandrake Project album. âA FAVOR TO THE MUSEâ, now finished and available, collaborates a massive amount of music and musicians. With 12 satellite guests joining the band and a 35 piece choir, the size of the project grew beyond its initial aspirations. Drum tracking began at AAM STUDIOS with Skip Sanders. The project then resorted to weeks of location tracking with cello and viola being recorded in Austin, TX, and guitars, violin, and percussion being recording all over Pittsburgh. The remaining sessions of tracking and mixdown were handed to King Larry Luther at MR. SMALLS recording facility. The sessions lasted into December of 2005, and the album was finally released in September of 2006. Lineup changes made late in the recording process added Rick Nelson and Ryan Science as a new and permanent force that would carry the album to its final stages. It is our hope that that the album will deliver the eclectic and atmospheric air weâve always intended for the listening audience. Our utmost honor goes out to some of the great talent that has assisted in the creation of âFAVOR TO THE MUSEâ: Rick Nelson (the POLYPHONIC SPREE), Jim Dispirito (former RUSTED ROOT, BIG WORLD), jazz man and amp guru Rick Struzzi, members of THE OUTSIDE ROYALTY, Jesse Prentiss (former RSTA), the fantastic BOOGIE HUSTLERS horn section and keyboards.

It is also our hope that positive change, dynamism, and spontaneous creation will lead the music into further reaches. Thank you for investigating the Mandrake Project, and frequently stop back to WWW.MANDRAKEPROJECT.COM for updates and additions.