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Mandoki Soulmates

A Memory Of Our Future

Review by Gary Hill
The list of guests here is impressive. And, there are times when those guests are very apparent in the music. For instance, there are tracks that call to mind Jethro Tull, and given that Ian Anderson is included, that makes perfect sense. Another guest whose presence is undeniable is Al Di Meola.

The music here leans toward melodic prog with a lot of folk and jazz stylings built into it. There are multiple vocalists featured, often with several on one song. All in all this is an album that leans toward mainstream but still has a healthy helping of art based music.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2024  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2024.
    
Track by Track Review
Blood in the Water
Flute jamming gets this going. The track works out into a section that sounds like Jethro Tull. After the first vocal section it drops back to something a little more modern. This has more of that Tull leaning, but feels a lot more modern than that in a lot of ways. That said, an organ solo section takes it into much more retro zones. There is some awesome folk prog instrumental work later in the track, and this whole thing just works really well.
Enigma of Reason
At over ten-minutes of music, this is the epic of the set. The track comes in with soft rock, balladic textures at play. The acoustic guitar jamming on this thing is purely amazing. The track also fires out into more driving progressive rock later. That builds out, and then it gives way to a jazzy movement around the halfway mark. We get more of that awesome acoustic guitar work further down the road, and the whole track explores a lot of musical territory with style.
The Wanderer
A mellower track, this has folk music, jazz and prog all merged. There are even hints of country in the mix. This works through a decent amount of territory. It has a spoken part near the end.
The Big Quit
Jazzy and funky, this tune is all class. It has some great acoustic guitar work. It's an effective rocker with a real mainstream vibe to it. This is complex and powerful. It includes some great guitar work, but everything about this is great.
Devil's Encyclopedia
More of a straight rocker, the vocal arrangement is great. The flute again brings comparisons to Jethro Tull at times. This is dynamic and involved. It's also powerful.
A Memory of My Future
I dig the mellow, jazzy groove of this song. This gets more powered up and dramatic at times. It's one of the classiest numbers here with its great fusion vibes and styles.
I Am Because You Are
World music, folk and other elements merge on this tune. I'm not sure I'd call this prog at all, but it's an effective tune nonetheless.
My Share of Your Life
This has plenty of both fusion and classic progressive rock in the mix. It's a great combination and features some amazing instrumental work. The vocals deliver in a melodic rock way. It does get more rocking later.
Age of Thought
I love the jazzy vibe on this track. It has some hints of Latin music and really features plenty of fusion. This is one of my favorite things here. This instrumental really feels like something that would be at home on one of Al Di Meola's albums. It ends with some keyboard soloing.
Matchbox Racing
Old-school jazz stylings create the opening here. The vocals come in over the top of that backdrop as this song gets more fully underway. This grows out into more of a jazz prog jam as it continues to build. I love the jamming on this thing.
We Stay Loud
This is much more of an energetic and rocking tune. It is driving, but still melodic. There are also jazzy excursions built into it.    
Melting Pot
With a healthy helping of jazz and world music in the mix, this really does feel like a melting pot. It's a satisfying way to close the set in style.
 
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