MANDOKI SOULMATES

(GERMANY)

LIVING IN THE GAP

(2019)
LABEL:

GLASS ONYON

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

/ ROCK
TAGS:
Folk, Fusion, Groovy, Jazzy, Technical
"Simple rock and jazz rock songs for "Living in the Gap", progressive strongly tinged with classical for "Hungarian Pictures", but exceptional quality of interpretation and arrangements for this double album of Mandoki Soulmates."
CORTO1809 (15.01.2021)  
4/5
(0) opinions (1) comment(s)
Mandoki Soulmates is the project of Leslie Mandoki, a Hungarian defector who fled the Eastern Bloc in 1975 and who, when asked what he intended to do by the German officer in the refugee camp where he had landed, replied: "to make music with my idols: Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Jack Bruce of Cream and Al di Meola". Not only would Mandoki Soulmates reunite these three men on his first album, "People", released in 1993, but he would also see many other artists with prestigious names collaborating with him.

"Living in the Gap/Hungarian Pictures", Mandoki Soulmates' sixth (and double) studio album, is no exception to the rule. In addition to the participation of the three aforementioned artists, we also find Bobby Kimball (Toto), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earth Band), John Helliwell (Supertramp), David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears), to name but a few in a cast of no less than 26 guest singers and musicians.

This double album is in fact the juxtaposition of two very different records not necessarily aimed at the same audience. The first one, "Living in the Gap", contains twelve songs in the classic verse/chorus format. If the compositions are not exceptional in terms of melodies, the richness of the orchestrations and the virtuosity of the contributors makes it an addictive object. By turns classic rock, jazzy, groovy, funky or folk, the album never ceases to seduce. The only downside is that the duration is a bit excessive and can lead to a certain weariness, but the easy listening of the melodies enhanced with particularly tasty instrumental embroidery and the diversity of the menu make it possible to overcome easily this slight flaw. 

"Hungarian Pictures" is quite different. The idea was born from conversations between Leslie Mandoki, Greg Lake and Jon Lord about the meaning of the music of the composer Béla Bartók and the possibility of transposing some of his works into a more rock language. As Lake and Lord are no longer with us, Mandoki alone will bring this project to life. A mix of progressive rock, jazz, folklore and of course classical music inspired by or quoting several of Bartók's works, this second record is in the same category as "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer (who, moreover, had already covered "Allegro Barbaro" under the title 'The Barbarian' on his first album). The mixture of Leslie and Julia Mandoki's compositions with those of Béla Bartók, all adorned with magnificent and numerous improvisations on the piano, Hammond organ, saxophone, guitar, trumpet, violin, clarinet... is a feast that you can't get enough of if you like the progressive of the origins, the one who doesn't hesitate to draw his inspiration from classical music. A must for every open-minded music lover!

With his double album, or rather his two discs joined together in only one volume, Mandoki Soulmates proposes music for all the tastes. Those who prefer songs in a calibrated format will find their happiness with "Living in the Gap", and those who love more lively travel and do not disdain classical music will revel in "Hungarian Pictures". And everyone will applaud the quality and richness of the interpretation.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Living in the Gap ("Living in the Gap") (07:06)
02. Young Rebels ("Living in the Gap") (04:25)
03. Turn the Wind ("Living in the Gap") (05:17)
04. Where We Belong ("Living in the Gap") (05:05)
05. Let the Music Show You the Way ("Living in the Gap") (04:12)
06. Too Much Pride ("Living in the Gap") (06:54)
07. Old Rebels ("Living in the Gap") (04:43)
08. Welcome To Real Life ("living In The Gap") (07:45)
09. Hottest Queen of Cool ("Living in the Gap") (03:46)
10. Wake Up ("Living in the Gap") (04:25)
11. Mother Europe ("living In The Gap") (03:40)
12. I'm Not Your Enemy ("Living in the Gap") (08:47)
13. Sessions In The Village ("hungarian Pictures") (06:50)
14. Utopia for Realists ("Hungarian Pictures") (02:09)
15. Transylvanian Dances ("Hungarian Pictures") (19:02)
16. You'll Find Me in Your Mirror ("Hungarian Pictures") (02:35)
17. Return to Budapest ("Hungarian Pictures") (04:36)
18. Barbaro ("Hungarian Pictures") (04:32)
19. The Torch ("hungarian Pictures") (05:51)

LINEUP:
Simon Phillips: Batterie
Ada Brecker: Saxophone
Al Di Meola: Guitares
Béla Szakcsi Lakatos: Piano À Queue
Bill Evans: Saxophone
Bobby Kimball: Chant
Chris Thompson: Chant
Cory Henry: Piano / Orgue Hammond / Fender Rhodes
Edvin Marton: Violon
Fausto Beccalossi: Accordéon
Gyula Papp: Piano / Orgue Hammond
Ian Anderson: Chant / Flûte
Jack Bruce: Chant / Basse
Jesse Siebenberg: Chant
John Helliwell: Saxophone, Clarinette
Julia Mandoki: Chant
Leslie Mandoki: Chant / Batterie / Percussions, Udu
Max Merseny: Saxophone
Mike Stern: Guitares
Nick Van Eede: Chant
Peter Maffay: Chant
Randy Brecker: Trompette
Richard Bona: Chant / Basse
Steve Bailey: Basse
Till Brönner: Trompette
Tony Carey: Chant / Piano / Orgue Hammond
   
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TONYB
15/01/2021
  0
La claque de ce début d'année : objet musical non identifié totalement addictif, d'une qualité incroyable.
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