Dec 14, 2014

Sundaze 1450

Hello, dramatically overslept today now why didn't i hear that alarm, anyway it threw my plans somewhat. Meanwhile i think i'll have to forego on dinner today...


Born in 1950, Mantra had been creating meditative ambient and drone music—soundscapes designed for "brain hemisphere synchronization," the release of the brain's own mood-relaxing endorphins—for decades. Among his efforts along the way were a series of albums on Silentes, along with a few collaborations with Rod Modell. . ..N'joy

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Once again an artist with surprisingly limeted availble info on his life and work, despite releasing 19 albums, most were'nt even aware that Michael Mantra was a moniker, he's real name was Michael J. Stoffan and besides making music he was an animator as well. Some of his work can be viewed and heared at the Library & Study Center in Culver City, CA. I use the past tense here because earlier this year Michael died, age 64 of cancer, completely broke (Obamacare came too late for him). A sad end to a life during which he tried to enhance all our lives, Michael rests in peace..

Michael Mantra creates ambient music. More than that, he creates tools for "brain hemisphere synchronization" (after synchronizing the mind and the body, Mantra's work claims to release endorphins - part of the human body's natural pharmacy which work at the level of opiates). Mixing modulating high and low harmonic tones (low deep drones and high resonating harmonics) with didgeridoo, ocean waves, rain, water, birds and other natural sounds and instruments, create sound structures that "induce a meditative state that synchronizes brain wave frequencies" or, more simply put by Mantra himself, create "Brain Hemisphere Harmonic Healing". He creates a perfect ambient soundscape for the ultimate relaxation trip.

Michael has been active since the early 90s, Bell Born 1987,  Michael Mantra and John Now - Sonic Transform ‎91, Sonic Satori ‎92 and Sonic Journey in 1994, cassette releases all self released through Tranquil Technology Music these preceeded his vinyl/cd career. Since he released many full-lenght albums on Silent, Hypnos and Silentes. He has also collaborated with Rod Modell on the seminal “Sonic Continuum” and “Radio Fore“, and also with Charlz de la Casa. According to Michael’s own words, “F/C” is an almost minimal atmospheric ambient drone core music but not as minimal as the “A/B” album. With stereo headphones this music is a tool for leveraging a change in states of consciousness and states of feeling. You can use this music as isolationist music. You can use this music in a city to filter out the Industrial Death Drone that consumes the souls of humanity. “F/C” evaporates the Veil of Illusion but with layers and layers of soft noise. If you live in the country you can use this music to trigger a journey to another land within. When I listen to this album I feel I am glad to be alive listening to this music. This album is dedicated to world peace for of all sentient beings.”

Mantra attempts to create sound structures that "induce a meditative state that synchronizes brain wave frequencies" or, more simply put by Mantra himself, create "Brain Hemisphere Harmonic Healing". From the early cassette only releases "Sonic Transform" with John Now and "Sonic Satori" to the CD release on Silent "Sonic Alter" and the brilliant follow-up "Sonic Continuum" with Silent Records contributor Rod Modell, Mantra strives to keep the Ambient "ethic" of the early 90's "chill out" vibe alive.

One of Mantra's last music releases was Mountain/Stream, also known as D/A, a two-track album issued on Silent Season in May 2013 and accompanied by eight versions from artists like Sonitus Eco, Djorvin Clain and STL's Lunatik Sound System. In his memory, the label has now made the album and its versions freely available for download—you can find it over at the Silent Season bandcamp page.

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Radio Fore is a psychoacoustic journey into a deep swirling pool of 40Hz tones and binaural beats. The two extended length atmospheric soundscapes explore the mysterious sonic phenomenon that has been documented at hundreds of UFO sightings. Track one takes you for an overnight stay in North, North-West Puerto Rico, at the Arecibo Observatory. And track two takes you to the sandy shores of Gulf-Breeze Florida in the middle of the night, two places of highly active UFO activity



Rod Modell and Michael Mantra -  Radio Fore  (flac  336mb)

01 Arecibo (Sleeping Under The Big Dish) 31:24
02 Gulf Breeze Sonar 32:18

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Boolean Languages is a dark ambient album that is sombre in approach and mysterious in overtones. A combination of digital and analog synthesizers, musique concrete and drones creates an album that is an ambiedelic brew of sonic excursions into the dark unknown lands within. This album is dedicated to world peace and the end of all suffering for all sentient beings. May you enjoy this album in good health.



Michael Mantra - Boolean Languages (from distant lands within) (flac  227mb)

01 Or For 22:29
02 And For 14:02
03 And Now 13:37
04 There Now 21:02

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A precious sonic masterwork, documenting the extraordinary collaboration between Michael Mantra and Charlz De La Casa. A cd of suspended time and space... 'classical' static music. Two long tracks flow like sonic lava, weaving together lush background washes, and evocative field recordings. Dark electric sounds, beautiful drones, inner-Earth rumbling, human voices, concrete noises, ship engines, sirens, sounds of the sea, bubbles, wind, chants, and wildlife sounds merge in an indefinable (and never before experienced) way... an absolutely unmissable work. As for the house Charlz (servant ?) the cover implies this was a friend with whom Michael explored the depth and breadth of rhythm and sound as a composer, musician and artist. A friend with whom he used to play raves (chill out) in the nineties and who died the year of release 2005.



Michael Mantra and Charlz De La Casa - Cerulean Transmission (flac 290mb)

01 Cyan 22 32:24
02 Cerulean Transmission 31:34

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2 comments:

T. S. said...


Hello, Rho:

How is the weather like up North? In Spain we have had a lot of floodings lately, even in dry regions...
Might not be the best time to request the albums you uploaded here, as all of them have bodies of water on their covers, but anyhow... Could you reupload them?

Thank you very much,
T.S.

T. S. said...

Thank you for reuploading these albums and good night.