Sh'mantra - sub_floating EP

[womps]

Artist: Sh’mantra
Title: sub_floating EP
Label: independent
Year of Release: 2002

Tracks:
1. Floating (5:48)
2. Clam (13:26)
3. Head Hurts (20:25)

Originally released as a limited edition CD-R, the popularity of sub_floating soon led to an official plant pressing at the most opportune time as High Beam readies the bands second album Formula Orange for a re-release.

Differing in theory to the bands previous output, sub_floating is made up of three compositions born from rehearsals without prior discussion or practice. And while any bunch of musicians could get together, make a noise, record it, and release it, it takes an in-tune group to make it work. In fact some of these tunes are worth more than other bands most rehearsed stuff! The four members clearly recognise each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and are able to feed off each spontaneous movement with slick precision.

Sure some of it doesn’t seem to fit, but that’s the nature of jamming – it’s taking what is without manipulating or toying with it. With the warts comes the beauty.

I find this disc an excellent accompaniment to the 2CD Formula Orange as it sits last in my 3 disc player, allowing an interesting come down from the challenging musical space-trip.

I give it out of a possible 5

[Lax Charisma]

heeh. heeh, heheh...

Gotta love that Sh'Mantra. Where else could Carcass, Morbid Angel, and Napalm Death jam with Brian Eno and Mike Oldfield and make it sound like they were made for each other and turn into one happy family.
Have you seen them live yet Womperstomper?
Awesome show, one of my favourite bands out there doing something new, thats for sure....

[womps]

i saw them live just recently for the first time in w'gong. they coped well considering the crappy PA and empty venue.
would love to see them on a larger stage (klub53 doesn't even have one of them!), with a bigger, more responsive audience, though.

[Lax Charisma]

hhhmm yeah I was at that show too.
Yes not the best venue (soundwise thought it had a good feel) and lack of people (wonder what fucking advertising we were expected to pay for) is always a bit of a vibe killer but having played with and seen Sh'Mantra a few times I am really into what they do live and on disc...

[Kevin]

I've got some older Sh'Mantra, and its some great stuff. I can deal with improvs and jams just fine, as long as the musicians are good enough to pay attention to. This new disc sounds like its worth a listen!!

[Jeb]

Review of sh'mantra's sub_floating. (to be posted at zietgeist www.zeitgeist-scot.co.uk/ )


SH-MAN-TRA

“Sub_Floating”<br>


Sh-man-tra is an Australian psychedelic space rock band hailing from Sydney who cite Eno, Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream and Radiohead among their influences and have also been compared to avant-garde improvisational Krautrock band Neu!

On checking out the band I discovered they released a highly rated double CD entitled ‘Formula Orange’ in 2001 and in 1998 released a CD called ‘Cornucopia’ (The band’s original name)

Band member Alex Hole in an interview on the Progressive World web site (Progressiveworld.net) described their music as ‘interesting sounds with no rules’.

Don’t think for one moment though that Sh-man-tra lose sight of melodiousness in the pursuit of experimentation.

Take the smattering of organ chords that anchor the 6 minute opener ‘Floating’ where the drummer’s contribution is of Nick Mason proportions or the wonderful Hillage like delayed rhythm echo effect based on a few mellifluous arpeggiated guitar chords (with variations of course!) in the 13 minute ‘Clam’ and you’ll find plenty of ‘hooks’ in Sh-man-tra’s music.

The drummer’s contribution is less hegemonical here building on brush and hi-hat to a more predominant role on full kit near the track’s conclusion.

There is experimentation of course- ‘Floating’ ends with an unnerving noise resembling a dysfunctional Dalek and ‘Clam’ begins at near subsonic level like some sinister alien underground engineering complex- ah, but my imagination is running away with me now- and this is the essence of Sh-Mantra’s music-soul-stirring and provocative no more so than on the 20 minute closer ‘Head Hurts’ the track that most eloquently exposes that this music was recorded during jam sessions (four more CDs to follow!)- the cacophonous distorted guitars and synths in the first seven minutes may not be to everyone’s liking but I loved it as it reminded me of some of the groundbreaking music on Add N To (X)’s ‘Avant Hard’.

Gloriously a familiar melody appears that takes me back to Pink Floyd’s ‘Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun’. Once the ‘flames’ die down tropical insect and bird sound form a gateway 11 minutes in to a wondrous 10 minute guitar sequence similar in construction to ‘Clam’ that has a transpicuous, almost pastoral ambience to it, like peering through the filmic gossamer of a spider’s web. Once again there is a total empathy once rhythm is added and time literally stands still.

I’m sorry to get so carried away (I’m not really!) but I just can’t stop playing this CD and must get my hands on ‘Formula Orange’ and anything else by Sh-man-tra very soon!

Contact: www.shmantra.com

(SCD03)



(Phil Jackson)

[Lax Charisma]

If you aren't already convinced by just how amazing this group is then come and see them play with Hee Haw and Obsidian at Club77 this Saturday. Bands start at 8:30....
Ohh if your in the Sydney area that is