Puzzle

Mandrake Memorial | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collectables
• ASIN: B000000895
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #632,244 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Earthfriend Prelude

2. Earthfriend

3. Just a Blur [Version 1]

4. Hiding

5. Just a Blur [Version 2]

6. Tadpole

7. Kyrie

8. Ocean's Daughter

9. Volcano Prelude

10. Volcano

11. Whisper Play

12. Bucket of Air

13. Children's Prayer

14. Puzzle

15. Just a Blur [Version 3]

16. Something in the Air

17. Musical Man

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Trippy Psychedelic Gem...., May 30, 2000

By 

Joel Ron (Tel Aviv, Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puzzle (Audio CD)

The Mandrake Memorial came together sometime in the late 60's in Philadelphia. This talented bunch has released three excellent albums between 1968-1970, quite an impressive output in creative terms.

Any collector of 60's Psychedelia will tell you that Puzzle, Mandrake's ambitious third and final album, is regarded today as one of the greatest psychedelic albums.

Stylistically similar to some of the Boston bands of that era (Ultimate Spinach in particular), Mandrake Memorial's digging into complex trippy Psychedelia has in a way anticipated progressive rock.

From the opening track 'Earthfriend Prelude' and throughout this magnificent artistic album, Puzzle blends tripped out orchestral experimentation with quasi-religious music. Fusing drum crescendos, whispers, weird effects and choirs, with a high degree of instrumentation, we're talking about an ambitious early concept album.

Go get this timeless masterpiece.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An overlooked classic, November 4, 2003

By 

Rocky Mountain (Cornfields, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puzzle (Audio CD)

I have the original on vinyl, but it's been played so many times I bought the CD for the sound (and the remastering is decent). I lived near Philly back in the day and saw these guys live a few times - quite a trip. On their first album they used an electronic harpsichord, the second had a homemade synthesizer, then Puzzle - with rather sophisticated electronic effects for 1970, and used very creatively in my opinion. Guitarist and synth guru Craig Anderton went on play a significant role in electronic music, including writing for Electronic Musician magazine. If you're looking for a different psychedlic experience than the 60's San Francisco scene, give MM a try.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quibbles, April 16, 2007

By 

Robert Carlberg (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puzzle (Audio CD)

This album gets five stars for innovation, staying power, originality and all around greatness, even though I have a few quibbles with the CD reissue:
* - They colorized M.C. Escher's cover
* - It's dubbed from vinyl, rather beat-up vinyl at that, with a skip at 2:08 and early fade on the last track because noise threatened to swamp the music
* - The back cover, a reduction of the insert that came with the original LP, is solarized from lack of color depth

That said, this is the only CD reissue of the classic gem of psychedelia, with orchestra, chorus, rock band and feedback combined as no-one has before or since. It's unforgettable music that has been a part of the soundtrack of my life for 37 years.