Mana Medicine

1. Jairamji - Elephant Waltz (remix)

2. Zen Lemonade - Die Ashanti

3. Angel Tears - Ishka

4. Ott - Escape From Tulse Hell

5. Tripswitch - Shamanic Tea

6. Grey Beard - Aushadhi

7. Noodreem - Cosmic Jam

8. Drift - Infusion

9. Lisa Walker - Orcadrift (Turtledub remix)

10. Angel Tears - D'Maot Malach

Tracks:

Elephant Waltz [Remix] - Jairamji
Die Ashanti
Ishka - Angel Tears
Escape from Tulse Hell - O.T.T.
Shamanic Tea - Tripswitch
Aushadhi
Cosmic Jam
Infusion
Orcadrift [Turtledub Remix] - Lisa Walker
D'Maot Malach - Angel Tears

Customer Reviews:

Inspired, sophisticated, ethnic influenced chillout treat........2001-10-14

Chillout Review : Mana Medicine

Various Artists
Liquid Sound Design / Dragonfly
2001

Tracks :
artist, name, time,
1) Jairamji, Elephant Waltz, 09'05"
2) Zen Lemonade, Ashanti, 06'21"
3) Angel Tears, Ishka, 05'19"
4) Ott, Escape from Tulse Hill, 07'28"
5) Tripswitch, Shamanic Tea, 07'09"
6) Grey Beard, Aushadhi, 07'46"
7) Noodreem, Cosmic Jam, 05'59"
8) Drift, Infusion, 08'01"
9) Lisa Walker, Orcadrift(TurtleDubrmx), 10'09"
10) Angel Tears, D'Marot Malach, 05'16"

Review:
Every now and then someone makes an album out of a compilation. I'm sure you have all experienced what I mean - it's as if all the artists sat down around a campfire, looked up at the stars and went away to the studio with the same inspiration. I suspect what this actually boils down to is that the compiler had a very clear idea of what sort of sound to create. In any case, Mana Medicine is an example of a compilation held together by common threads. And what a beautiful tapestry it is too !

The theme throughout is sophisticated, gentle hooks placed carefully in a soundscape of natural rhythms and earthy ethnic sounds. This is neither the mindbending psychoactive style of say Shpongle, nor the deeply mystical style of the Yeti albums or Padmasana/Makyo but more in the freestyle spirit of Twisted's Backroom Beats. Very very compelling stuff.

The Jairamji track opens with forest atmosphere and develops with a delicacy and warmth that anyone who heard them in their previous guise as Swivel Pigeon would recognise. The tune grows to a splendid culmination of guitars and breaks - yum! Zen Lemonade immediately take the rhythms deep and clear - the kind of tune you find yourself swaying to when you're sitting in the chillspace. Angel Tears (aka Seb Taylor aka Shakta/Digitalis/Somaton) opens with strings and a toe-thumping bassline leading to a sublime vocal line and loose Hispanic guitar. Is this man one of the most versatile producers in Britain today ? I'd say so !

Ott's tune is - if I have to choose one - a highlight. Dub filled, deep, intricate, tuneful and oh so cool! Plus plenty of psychedelic noising to fire up the cortex - this is really a joyful journey from start to end. Tripswitch take us into far off realms with a tribal bassline and a very catchy electronic melody spiced with Indian vocals.

Greybeard (cowritten by the compiler, Humphrey, and Lawrence) pull out a gem of highly unusual sounds and rich samples carried on a spacey bass. The tune evolves in its own time and is nicely elevated by some really tasty guitar playing and, of course, our old friend Terence.

Noodreem continue the organic tribal feel set down before them, and add a light-hearted and well placed electronic melody. Drift (aka Adham Shaikh from Ekko) delivers a typically laid-back blissful tune. It doesn't have quite the emotive power of his `Arc en ciel', but it's still great to get more of his tunes out in the open. Lisa Walker's addition is also delivered in a totally laid back position - piano and other classical instruments sneak in wonderfully.

Angel Tears finishes with another guitar jam and their quintessential floating vocals. Rich in emotion, skilled and just generally lovely - a perfect sensual ending.

I know I've probably said far too much about this album already, and of course the best thing to do is to just buy the thing and find out for yourself, but Mana Medicine just goes on to confirm L.S.D's position as one of the leading downtempo labels. And showing that there are a lot of artists out there who know how to do this kind of thing when they are given an outlet.