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Mandrillus Sphynx reviews

2005 Michael Rosen - KZSU Zookeeper ↓

MANDRILLUS SPHYNX : Ban Music

Wow, I haven't been rocked with this kind of energy since 'Dig Your Own Hole'. This album is for real, people. Hard-hitting dance beats from all genres combine with slinky sexy synth melodies. All tracks have lots of builds and breakdowns, and never get dull or monotonous. Play: 2, 9.

1) Hard, fast, punchy house beat combines with raunchy thick bass line. Very energetic opener.
2) Very much a Fila Brazillia feel here. Slinky drum breaks and atmospheric electronic noise in the background, with a driving bassline to keep it all together.
3) Slow heavy house beat. Lots of syncopation-- a real funk flavor.
4) 30 second atmospheric intro of just distorted vocals, which then combine with another funky house-y beat. Lots of little electro styled hooks. Really nice build/release at 2:50.
5) Downtempo, almost trip-hop, cut with a real warm mellow sound. Beautiful meandering bass line and really spacey melodic synth work.
6) A funk beat with guitar riffing and electro-synths and smooth moving basslines.
7) Simple rockin' breakbeat with lots of pulsing beep-y noises and a very punchy bass. Think The Prodigy on acid.
8) Dark, meandering breakbeat track. Guitars, synth hits, and burbeling basslines. Doesn't really come together very well.
9) Starts without a beat; just strumming guitars, organ, what sounds like thumb piano. Really funky beat drops for 30 seconds at 1:30, and then the track basically ends. Very engaging.
10) Simple guitar loops with various electro-styled beats.
11) Upbeat track with more funk guitar riffing and lots of cheery synth loops.
12) Very pretty one minute long conclusion. Simple slow beat with strumming guitar, piano, and synth melody.

→ Mandrillus Sphynx : Ban Music

2003 For DJs Only ↓

MANDRILLUS SPHYNX : Ban Music

Ban Music is the debut album from Mandrillus Sphynx, aka Fila Brazillia's Dave McSherry. Hey, good looking! Mandrillus Sphynx, rubberised ocean-dweller of old, has finally given birth. The new wet pup, Ban Music, is waving at you! Look into his eyes, feel his downy teats. The beautiful beast is about to speak: "Pa done good!" Pardon you! Early emissions gave us an idea of the twisted disco long-player that has now thankfully arrived. 'Ussyats' had 'em dancing in the aisles while 'Zanya' made many a grown man weep into his pint of ecstasy. We were warned. But hell, it just tastes so good...As Mandrillus himself once said, "A platter of fine funk gifts awaits those who think good thoughts." Who are we to argue?

→ Mandrillus Sphynx : Ban Music

2003 Ben Hogwood - Resident Advisor ↓

MANDRILLUS SPHYNX : Ban Music

In which Fila Brazillia's Dave McSherry goes solo, the bright and colourful cover something of a guide to what lies ahead. But what's with the name?! I suppose Fila have always been great for names, with album titles like 'Maim That Tune' and 'A Touch Of Cloth', but this one drops a clanger.

I guess the music's more important though, and there's no complaints on that score. McSherry applies the tried and tested Fila blueprint of uplifting, funky grooves, of which 'Pigeon's G-Spot' and 'Porcelain Dog' are excellent examples. He shows a willingness to go more uptempo than Fila generally do, and injects a welcome colour into the arrangements. As always the lower range is given great attention with opener 'Pangea' a prime example, and occasionally a New Order influence creeps to the surface in some of the Sphynx keyboard riffs. 'Bwoy Racer' is well worth trying, some new and inventive sounds in the middle foreground.

Good stuff from Twenty Three once again - no danger of this music being banned!

→ Mandrillus Sphynx : Ban Music