MANDALABAND [AKA: MANDALABAND I]

This is a strange album from a strange band. Well, most prog rock bands are strange. But this band is specially strange. Or is it a project ? Well, read the biography and decide yourself.

The opening track is a symphony of some sorts in four movements. The similarities to ELP is duly noted. The addition of a choir adds texture to the music. There are some interesting bombastic orchestra parts in this symphony. But it is also layered with heavy prog, AOR and filmmusic too. This is the best track on this album.

The second song is pretty influenced by KING CRIMSON and rock music. It is straight forward AOR rock and nothing much else. The third song Song For A King is heavily influenced by CARAVAN. Roof Of The World has some SAGA influences and is pretty commercial AOR. Did they get a number one hit with this one ? Nope, but I am pretty sure it was not for the lack of trying. The final song Looking In is melancholic and pretty similar to what MANNING did twenty-five years later. Although Looking In is more AOR than Guy's songs.

So, that's my interpetation of what I have heard. This album touches most bases. The music include strong elements of symphonic prog, heavy prog, hard-rock, AOR, film-music and space rock. Even jazz has been integrated here. The use of electric guitars are pretty dense. Which makes it a bit hard-edged album. The vocals is pretty good. The use of orchestra makes this album pretty dated. The sound is OK though.

ELP is being mentioned as a reference. I only agree to a certain degree. But it is not an ELP clone by any means. The problem with this album is that it tries to be everything to everyone. AOR and symphonic prog is not good bedfellows, in my view. AOR dominates too much and it makes it a bit of a turn off for me. As a concept, this album is not a concept if you understand me. It is everything to everyone and it therefore looses it's focus.

There are some good songs here. Well, all of them are good in their own right. Some of the music is also a bit dull and dated. But it is not a bad album by any means. It is an album worth checking out.

3.5 stars