Search - Space Tribe :: Sonic Mandala

Underrated!

chis@matrik.ndo.co.uk | Hants, UK | 02/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now wait a minute - whilst it is true that this album as a whole isn't anything particularly original, it has one very big thing in its favour: it's GOOD PSYTRANCE. These days so many producers (e.g. post-Dancing Galaxy Astral Projection and so many others), are hitting their presets and doing the same thing over again. This means on first listen, Sonic Mandala may sound a little dated by today's standards. Give it time - listen to the entire album - and you'll soon find that there isn't one track on here that doesn't do the business. It isn't enough just to shove on said presets, get some arpeggios and a beat going - Ollie Wisdom manages to go those few extra miles and make it all sit together well and add that necessary human touch (Posford, of course, is able to do this standing on his head).Whilst there is the odd spoken word sample that seems a little out of place or just very dodgy, this album is solid full-on energy from start to finish. Don't think IFO since that's even crazier, think something a little more sedated and (thankfully) not including a cheesy, annoying ambient track stuck on the end. Most of the tracks twist and turn all over the place - parts are added and dropped out of the mix every few bars, meaning some actually may be a little _overwhelmed_ since it's so full on. Just go back to it again every so often and you'll agree that all of this means Sonic Mandala will work nicely both in a set and in your bedroom."

They get better with time

goa114 | Repentigny | 08/07/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't know Space Tribe until recently and bought their latest album(2000 O.D.)and loved it.Since I loved it so much I decided to buy one of their previous albums, which turned out to be Sonic Mandala.And by doing so I have learned an important lesson in trance music: all the trance groups get better with time. As you may have guessed I was disappointed by the cd, don't get me wrong, the cd ain't that bad, it just doesn't live up to their last effort. Overall it just plain lacks depth: you'll feel like your listened to the same tracks over and over. Take it from me: if you buy some Space Tribe, buy one of their latest cd and you shouldn't be disappointed."