Original released 1975
CD Reissue Tone Arm 2014
sealed !
Solid is the sixth album by the band Mandrill.
Even in the days of War and Santana where the psychedelic stew and
different latin styles were all merging together......this particular
band was a standout. Mainly due to the heavy rootedness of their music.
Throughout this 1975 album the band serve up a set of tunes that blend
rather forboding,dark funk with surreal strings,harmonies and wah-wahs
such as on the compelling "Wind On Horseback","Yucca Jump" and the title
song. They really rock hard in a funky place (best term I could
use-thanks Prince) on "Tee Vee",a song whose message and almost proto
hip-hop groove predates the Disposable Heroes Of Hisprocrisy's
"Television" by about fifteen years. There are also some hardcore
grooves such as "Peck Ya Neck" and "Stop & Go". The final song
"Slick" is pretty much an instrumental that takes on some very dynamic
influences:from the cinematic soul popular with Isaac Hayes to this sort
of afro cuban jazz sound. This is all a very potent reminder of the
cross cultural politnation,from jazz to soul to pop that the golden age
of funk represented.