10 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Mana Mushroom - Album Review: Mana Mushroom

30 Aug 2023 // A review by Rob Harbers
Poneke’s Mana Mushroom’s eponymous self-titled debut EP has emerged into the world, and it’s a banger! Showing the benefit of a long period of gestation in the live arena, this impressive instrumental collection has its aim stated as “to stimulate listeners' senses in a way which evokes a sense of wonder about the world and our place in it", and it achieves this aim. It’s quite possible that such stimulation could be enhanced with the aid of some fabulous fungi, but it’s not my place to suggest any such consumption..

Leading off with the 12+ minute Battle Hill, the band’s progressive ambition, and inspiration, is front and centre. This track puts me in mind of a reverse version of King Crimson’s Red, thus harking back 50-odd years to a band some regard as the forerunners in the prog genre. Where KC lead pretty much straight off into the sonic onslaught, easing off the pedal later on for the quieter bits, this track starts with the more restrained, with a slow build in dynamics toward the first outburst of powerhouse riffola. In my book, to be evoking the pioneers straight out of the starting block is impressive stuff indeed! (not that the two tracks sound anything like each other, apart from maybe one random note, but they are both drawing on a similar spirit)

Backing up this opening statement of intent, the second track, Ultraviolet adds layers progressively on an elaborate riff as it builds toward a breakout just after the halfway point, before cycling back around to a lower intensity expression, and finishing strongly. This leads in to track 3, Meteorite, the shortest of this suite, weighing in at a mere five minutes. A Tool-reminiscent riff leads off, before a pause precedes the complete change of pace, breaking out into high-speed mode to show the power that has previously been held more in check, giving a tantalising glimpse into what could ensue if things were to get out of hand!

Closing out is Chapters, initially evoking a sped-up Kyuss, over an appealing base of dirty fuzz, then veering across the speed spectrum, cranking up and slowing down the beat, before climaxing in an elaborate breakout that unites all of the elements previously sighted, to finish the EP on a high, if slightly abrupt, note. Always leave them wanting more, is the expression that springs to mind here, as the music suddenly terminates, leaving the listener seeking exactly that!

A very impressive opening salvo in a career that promises much, this is definitely a piece worth the effort of exploring. I’d be interested to see the band in a live setting, where it’s easy to imagine these tracks absolutely taking off, so will be watching out in hope of such an opportunity. And I suspect they might be kind of fun guys! In the meantime, however, there’s just this sampler to keep on high rotation, while awaiting that day. Ch-Check it out!!

 

About Mana Mushroom

Fungus fueled, heavy progressive psychedelic jungle sounds from Aotearoa

"its hypnotic and vibey, they have some big crescendos, the whole thing sounds huge for a three piece."


Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Mana Mushroom

Releases

Mana Mushroom
Year: 2023
Type: EP

Other Reviews By Rob Harbers

Pool House - EP Review: Sandflies
31 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
Otautahi’s Pool House make an early bid for the soundtrack to this summer, with their EP Sandflies. Coming on sounding fully formed, it’s clear that they’ve done the mahi to get to where they are, and this EP promises great things.
Read More...
Gig Review: Small Hall Sessions w/ Louis Baker @ Tikokino Hall - 24/10/2024
26 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
Making his debut in the Small Halls milieu, Louis Baker entranced the audience at Tikokino hall with an intensely soulful performance, setting a perfect tone for Te-Matau-a-Maui’s extra-long weekend. With a paradoxical combination of strength and fragility, his performance drew them in, kept them engaged, and gave them many tales to tell to those who weren’t there.
Read More...
Gig Review: Jon Toogood @ Paisley Stage, Napier - 17/10/2024
22 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
In support of his first solo album Last of the Lonely Gods, Jon Toogood visited what is almost his home-away-from-home, Ahuriri’s coolest little venue, Paisley Stage. An unfortunate cock-up on the communication front meant that I completely missed support act Jazmine Mary-apologies Jazmine!
Read More...
Gig Review: Ish Presents: All Folked Up @ St Matthews Hall, Hastings - 13/10/2024
16 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
On the final night of Fringe in the Stings’ brief champagne supernova, it was the turn of Ish to land their magic carpet ride back where it all began. Their journey started with an appearance at FITS and has since seen them invited to the top table, the Hawkes Bay Arts Festival itself, along the way.
Read More...
Gig Review: Stretch and The Sinners @ St Matthews Hall, Hastings - 11/10/2024
14 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
With a hiss and a roar, Ahuriri’s Stretch, with his newly renamed entourage The Sinners, has burst back in to the public arena. The increasingly essential quick ’n’ dirty October experience that is Fringe in the ‘Stings (or FITS for the impatient!
Read More...
Gig Review: Small Hall Sessions w/ Mel Parsons @ Otane Town Hall, Otane - 09/10/2024
10 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
Maintaining an impressive fortnightly schedule after their winter hibernation, the Small Hall Sessions are this week playing host to Otautahi’s Mel Parsons. This marks her debut on the Small Halls circuit, and it’s in support of her recently released album Sabotage, these appearances being dates 15-18 of a wider national tour of 22 nights all up.
Read More...
Gig Review: Sidewinder w/Tusk & Awarewolves @ Paisley Stage, Napier - 28/09/2024
05 Oct 2024 // by Rob Harbers
Ahuriri’s coolest little venue, Paisley Stage, tonight played host to Poneke heavyweights Sidewinder and Kirikiriroa’s Tusk, with locals Awarewolves providing the third leg of the stool. The combination made for a great night’s entertainment, 3 bands giving it their all and doing their level best to threaten the building’s structural integrity!
Read More...
Gig Review: Small Hall Sessions w/ Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders @ Te Awanga Hall, Te-Matau-a-Maui - 27/09/2024
28 Sep 2024 // by Rob Harbers
The opening run of the Small Hall Sessions featured the pairing of Barry Saunders and Delaney Davidson. Now, nearly 3 and a half years and around 180 Sessions later, this remarkable duo has returned to stomp the boards of Hawkes Bay’s rural hubs.
Read More...
View All Articles By Rob Harbers

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem