Bastions of Welsh psychedelia, mythical musician ensconced in mighty trips into far reaching concerns, not for the weary are Sendelica, and indeed not for those with limited patience. Expansive music for expanding minds, they are very much a cottage industry to themselves as they forever pursue everlasting areas of exploration.
Bringing together the quadrilogy of albums released around “Mankind” and bolstered by remixes and demos into a singular boxed package, The Complete Mankind offers a Director’s Cut of listening to the releases. Inspired by readings into Ur and Sumerian history, and seeking parallels with with the Bible, it’s a rather heady concept albeit a completely instrumental one so you’re gonna either have to do some reading yourself or open up your mind. Highly recommended to do a bit of both, if we are honest.
Taken as single albums, each Mankind release has its own distinct sound, albeit one that could only come from Sendelica, yet taken as a whole (because why wouldn’t you listen to all four albums in a row? Well, this reviewer did – ok, over a few days) it becomes something much more expansive and immersive. Familiar motifs arise and links are made on the journey as your mind tricks you into believing this is one coalesced whole. The equivalent of those 9 hour silent epic movies from the 1920’s where time becomes almost irrelevant as you are set upon a parallel journey in life. It’s breathtaking at times, and utterly and completely brilliant.
Musically the whole set ranges from motorik rhythms and space rock riffs, through pastoral psych, into bubbling free form ambient jazz. All usual rules of music are cast aside and you really do have to tip your hat to the sheer excellence in musicianship that is on show. Not a single moment sounds gratuitous, forced, or unnecessary.
Alongside each release is another separate release for each album full of demos and remixes which not only unmask some of the working and creative aspects of the band, but also show an unerring need to continuously expand on already created music. It becomes a bit of a rabbit hole and you do have to wonder what other delights lay hidden away in the studio vaults. Even with the sheer amount of music on offer here, you still find yourself wanting more of this Mankind stuff. Without a doubt one of the releases of the year, whether this closes a chapter fully on the Mankind theme remains to be seen but in the meantime feed this into your head. It really doesn’t get any better in terms of what we call psych.
