Mandivula – Nonsense (CD Album – Dal Recordings)
Genre/Influences: Minimal-electronics, krautrock.
Background/Info: There’s not a lot of information available about Mandivula. The solo-project likes certain anonymity, but seems to be located in the Southern part of Europe. “Nonsense” appears to be the artist’s debut album featuring seven cuts.
Content: There clearly is a minimal-electro approach running through the work, which has been mixed with krautrock elements. I also noticed a few psychedelic passages. The cuts are rather short. The work is progressively evolving towards darker atmospheres while the compositions remain instrumentals.
+ + + : “Nonsense” reveals an interesting merge between different electronic elements creating a refreshing touch. I like the sound-minimalism, which also has something vintage like through the analogue-like sound treatments. I also enjoyed the work’s darkness and hypnotic effects. “Austerity” is a sublime piece of music where the atmosphere perfectly reflects the title of the song.
– – – : I noticed one forgettable song (cf. “Grey”) that I think it could be interesting to mix a few sampled- or real vocal lines in some songs.
Conclusion: Mandivula appears to be a real DIY artist, which is an element I support, but it also is an interesting discovery for electro tasters.
Best songs: “Austerity”, “My Spine”, “Disease”, “Void”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/thisismandivula
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
