Mandrake Project

MANDRAKE PROJECT
MANDRAKE PROJECT can be very confusing. What exactly is it? Who’s really in this musicians’ collective? What do they sound like? These questions are most frequently asked, and least frequently answered. Let us clarify using this tested recipe.
The fabled “Mandrake Root” has some correlation with the name. In short, the story of the MANDRAKE tells of its dangers in harvesting the root for magical properties. The legend states that any unknowing harvester of the root would be greeted by a murderous shrieking noise upon pulling the plant from the earth. This shrieking cry from the human shaped root would render such a pitied individual lifeless. To bypass such terrible endeavor, the wise harvester would tie a rope to the top of the plant, and the other end to a hungry stray dog. A scrap of meat would then be stashed nearby and safely out of rope’s reach. The anxious dog, hot on the scent, would inadvertently wander and pull the plant from the ground in a safe distance from the harvester’s earshot. At the expense of the canine sacrifice, the lucky harvester could then utilize the prized root for its many magical properties.
What does all this mean? Does this music shriek? At times. But by no means should there be any implication that hearing Mandrake Project will kill you or the family pet. In fact, it is preferential to think that its effects are mostly positive and thought provoking. Some people may have negative reactions upon their first experience but will find that repeated exposure will make symptoms subside quickly, and may even lead to feelings of euphoria and musical bliss.
DESCRIPTION:
The sound of the band… is not easy to put a finger on because the band is always subject to change. It is an unintentional way that things have always been conducted. There is no constant style to be adhered to, no vocals, no dead-ringer influences and a rotating cast of satellite musicians adding random of ideas to the core of the band. The members of Mandrake Project all come from vastly different musical backgrounds, which creates a situation of constant ego and intention adjustment. In addition, each member is associated with other significant musical endeavors outside of the project that bear little or no resemblance to what exactly Mandrake does. Some members, like Rick Nelson, live a time zone away and have extensive touring schedules with acts like THE POLYPHONIC SPREE. It nevertheless all works just as it should. Constant…Patient.
The body of music created by Mandrake Project concocts an unusual mixture characterized by unpredictable and eccentric investigations into jazz, classical, world-beat, psychedelic and ambient rock. The music is entirely self-reliant with vocal absence, but smears heavy layers of sound and rhythm into complex and sometimes repetitive soundscapes.
INGREDIENTS: (and their many uses)
KIRK SALOPEK
Guitarist, Gadgeteer.
Initiator of the Mandrake Project.
Nervous. Wreck. Insane. Perfectionist.
(Also for use with Outside Royalty, Halos Grace)
DAVID CHAPMAN JAMISON
Drums, Chapman Stick, Percussion, Moog
Multi instrumentalist.
Technologically Turned-On.
(Also for use with Boogie Hustlers, Jon Check)
BENJAMIN ZERBE
Drums, Percussion.
Original skin-beater of many guises.
Typically aloof drummist.
ANTHONY PECORA
Bass Guitarist, Percussion.
Will find the LOWER side of the end.
Too intense for everyone’s own good.
(Also for use with Jon Check)
RYAN MEALS
Guitarist, Saxophone.
The other half of Mandrake guitardom.
The scientific one.
(Also for use with Boogie Hustlers)
RICK NELSON
Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass.
The hardest "working" MAN in DRAKE.
Official Mandrake Representative for the city of New Orleans.
(Also for use with Polyphonic Spree, St. Vincent, Jens Lekman, Jeff Klein)
SCOTT JAMISON
Organ, Percussion, Programming
Shares blood relation within the project.
EXTRA INGREDIENTS: (Optional. Apply liberally for added potency.)
JOE BISHKOFF Cello, Keyboards Arrangement Assistant
JOSH DUNLEAVY Saxophone
PREPARATION:
In late September of 2006 after nearly a year of recording, the Mandrake Project independently released “A FAVOR TO THE MUSE”. A massive, sprawling debut that combined 16 guest musicians and 40-piece female choir. The album garnered excellent critical response from both the press and independent radio throughout the US and Europe. The highest praise came from orchestral gems like “An Ode to the Spaceman” and technical space rockers like “Walking Music” and “The Economy of Motion”. A few tracks from the album, including the hallucinogenic “Tteraj” managed to find their way onto the soundtrack for the independent film release of “Listerine on Sundays” by Brian Paul Higgins. The film will be showcasing at several of the major film festivals in 2008 and features music from other contemporaries such as Bright Eyes.
A collection of new material written after the “favor” sessions and throughout the spring and summer of 2007 will see the console of Mr. Smalls recording facility in autumn of 2007. The working title for the second full length Mandrake album is tentatively slated to be, “A Miraculous Container”. The title track has been beautifully augmented by the angelic vocals of John Schisler of NEW INVISIBLE JOY. Further potential plans include him on other tracks as well. Release date is not currently scheduled, but the recording and general mixing of the album was completed in April of 2008. Mastering and final mixing has yet to occur and will take place in NYC at QUAD STUDIOS with engineer supremo Ryan Gilligan in August of 2008. A Fall 2008 release is hopeful.
USES:
The Mandrake Project can be directly reached via email using the directives below. The interests of the project lie in participating in purposeful events, concerts, festivals, film scores and other multimedia presentations that preserve quality and integrity in artistic intention. It is our hope that positive change, dynamism, and spontaneous creation will continue to lead the music into farther reaches. Thank You.
WWW.MANDRAKE PROJECT.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MANDRAKEPROJECT