Mandalaband – Mandalaband(1975 UK - Prog Rock)Full Album

Mandalaband biography MANDALABAND were a short-lived 70's creation of composer and producer David Rohl. The actual band was short-lived and produced only a single album; however, Rohl would subsequently incorporate the name into a multi-musician theme effort after the original group disbanded. Early years ANKH recorded tracks in 1968 with support from MINDBENDERS and 10CC vocalist Eric Stewart and under contract to Vertigo Records, but to-date these have never been released. The collaboration with Stewart set the tone for Rohl, whose subsequent efforts would also be marked by the involvement of major names in the British music industry. Following the ANKH project Rohl left the music business briefly for a career in photography, where his most notable achievements can be seen inside the gatefold of the MOODY BLUES' 1970 release 'A Question of Balance'. Mandalaband Rohl returned to music with the formation of MANDALABAND along with drummer Tony Cresswell and Camel Studios session keyboardist Vic Emerson and former FRIENDS members John Stimpson and Ashley Mulford. The group auditioned and signed vocalist David Durant and MANDALABAND was born and promptly signed by Chrysalis Records. MANDALABAND undertook touring almost immediately, and by early 1975 found themselves opening for Robin Trower's UK. The band followed the tour with a trip to the studio for their first and only album, for which Chrysalis retained THIN LIZZY and YARDBIRDS producer John Alcock much to the band's chagrin. The theme of the album was centered around the Tibetan resistance movement against Chinese occupation begun after the redistricting of the area following World War II, and still smoldering today. Chrysalis executives were not pleased with the effort and eventually brought Rohl and future TALK TALK engineer Tim Friese-Greene back to the studio to remix the album. John Alcock. The final effort was not particularly well-received thanks largely to its Tibetan lyrics and highly complex and often dissonant musical structures, particularly coming as it did on the wane of popularity for bombastic and obscure progressive epics in the latter 70s. This album was reissued on CD in 1992 by Edsel Records but is not widely available. Rohl left the group shortly after the album's release, and the band eventually reformed around future MIKE & THE MECHANICS vocalist Paul Young and GYRO guitarist Ian Wilson under the name SAD CAFÉ. Studio Album, released in 1975 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. a. Om Mani Padme Hum (Movement One) 00:00 b. Om Mani Padme Hum (Movement Two) c. Om Mani Padme Hum (Movement Three) d. Om Mani Padme Hum (Movement Four) 5. Determination 20:49 6. Song for a King 26:40 7. Roof of the World 32:02 8. Looking In 36:34 Total Time 41:05 Line-up / Musicians - Tony Cresswell / drums, tubular bells, timpani - David Durant / lead vocals - Vic Emerson / keyboards, clavinet, string & chorus arrangements, synthesizers, glockenspiel - Ashley Mulford / guitars - John Stimpson / bass, acoustic guitar + The London Chorale