01Profile
A Mandrake Handshake Photo
Mandrake Handshake
Musicians — Oxford
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Row and Elvis! We’re vibing in Oxford right now, along with most of the band.
Describe your style in three words?
Gay space hippies.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Stereolab at Green Man 2019. Our favourite band, playing the most beautiful music - and we were off our faces. Elvis kept screaming “I’m getting visions of a utopian society!” This became the key lyric for our first single, 'Hypersonic Super-Asterid'. 'Percolator' was a real highlight from this set.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Captain Beefheart and Magic Band circa 1967. Live videos of the group from this period are so fiery and magnificent; they had all the energy of punk, but with the dynamic nuances of experimental genius. What a privilege it must have been to see them in the flesh!
To play on the same bill as the Brian Jonestown Massacre would be a dream for us. They are a constant source of inspiration for us plus, their live sets are epic as f*ck: guitars everywhere, megatons of bliss per square metre (bpm2).
Which subcultures have influenced you?
The samba-fuelled tropics of '70s Brazil. The tripped-out f*ckery of British '90s Psychedelia. The paisley-powered pioneers of the '60s West Coast scene!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
We’d do many unspeakable things to spend an hour with the Latin poet Ovid. His life was one of true subversion, patisching all poetry that had come before him. He wrote epic poems, poems about how to get dates, how to pleasure your partner, all the good stuff! It is believed that his rampant promiscuity offended the emperor and got him exiled!! Definitely, someone to smash a pint with.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The Bullingdon in Oxford is a cherished space for us. It sounds fantastic, and crucially we can all fit on the stage which is no mean feat! We managed to blag our first headline show there and fill the room with our mates, so it holds plenty of lovely memories for us.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Not strictly one person this but... in our eyes, the Soundcarriers are one of the most under-valued British bands of recent times. The heavenly levels of harmony, production and songwriting these guys can hit is the stuff of dreams. 'Caught By The Sun' from their fantastic debut record, is always a go-to for us.
Mandrake Handshake recently released their debut EP 'Shake The Hand That Feeds You'. Listen, purchase or stream it via pias.ffm.to/knmj00d.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
R: 'Lion Iron Zion' by Bob Marley & The Wailers. I remember listening to it on my Walkman when I was very very young. Those horns stuck with me forever.
A song that defines the teenage you?
E: 'Sea Within a Sea' by The Horrors. I was a massive Horrors fan growing up. When I was sixteen, 'Sea Within a Sea' inspired me with its winding ebbs and flows, and lyrics about fearlessly voyaging into the unknown.
One record you would keep forever?
R: 'Dots and Loops' by Stereolab. It’s simply the best album by the best band. A unique exercise in cool ranch drum ’n’ bass, aided by the glorious John McIntyre
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'You are Not an Island' by Vanishing Twin. Maybe it’s just the way Cathy sings them…
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Light Fantastic' by Eric Copeland. It WILL, get you skanking like a fool.
A song you wished you had written?
'Spaceway 70' by Bruno Pernadas. It shifts groove when you least expect it, without ever being jarring. It’s effortless to listen to, but impossibly complex to write.
Best song to turn up loud?
'W.B' by The Fall. It’s all in the drums, and Mark E. Smith’s intoxicating vocals: part-horse shit, part prophet.
Best song to bring people together?
E: 'Expensive Shit' by Fela Kuti. Dance music for the ages.
R: The sound of gearing up for cosmic takeover.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Pure Morning' by Placebo. His voice is so annoying but f*ck me yes those guitars are immense.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Halleluwah' by CAN. Only the true sesh-lords make it to Halleluwah, and only the hardest amongst those make it to the end of Halleluwah.
Any new bands you are listening to right now?
Electric Jabala, Pluma and Pom Poko.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Row and Elvis! We’re vibing in Oxford right now, along with most of the band.
Describe your style in three words?
Gay space hippies.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Stereolab at Green Man 2019. Our favourite band, playing the most beautiful music - and we were off our faces. Elvis kept screaming “I’m getting visions of a utopian society!” This became the key lyric for our first single, 'Hypersonic Super-Asterid'. 'Percolator' was a real highlight from this set.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Captain Beefheart and Magic Band circa 1967. Live videos of the group from this period are so fiery and magnificent; they had all the energy of punk, but with the dynamic nuances of experimental genius. What a privilege it must have been to see them in the flesh!
To play on the same bill as the Brian Jonestown Massacre would be a dream for us. They are a constant source of inspiration for us plus, their live sets are epic as f*ck: guitars everywhere, megatons of bliss per square metre (bpm2).
Which subcultures have influenced you?
The samba-fuelled tropics of '70s Brazil. The tripped-out f*ckery of British '90s Psychedelia. The paisley-powered pioneers of the '60s West Coast scene!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
We’d do many unspeakable things to spend an hour with the Latin poet Ovid. His life was one of true subversion, patisching all poetry that had come before him. He wrote epic poems, poems about how to get dates, how to pleasure your partner, all the good stuff! It is believed that his rampant promiscuity offended the emperor and got him exiled!! Definitely, someone to smash a pint with.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The Bullingdon in Oxford is a cherished space for us. It sounds fantastic, and crucially we can all fit on the stage which is no mean feat! We managed to blag our first headline show there and fill the room with our mates, so it holds plenty of lovely memories for us.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Not strictly one person this but... in our eyes, the Soundcarriers are one of the most under-valued British bands of recent times. The heavenly levels of harmony, production and songwriting these guys can hit is the stuff of dreams. 'Caught By The Sun' from their fantastic debut record, is always a go-to for us.
Mandrake Handshake recently released their debut EP 'Shake The Hand That Feeds You'. Listen, purchase or stream it via pias.ffm.to/knmj00d.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
R: 'Lion Iron Zion' by Bob Marley & The Wailers. I remember listening to it on my Walkman when I was very very young. Those horns stuck with me forever.
A song that defines the teenage you?
E: 'Sea Within a Sea' by The Horrors. I was a massive Horrors fan growing up. When I was sixteen, 'Sea Within a Sea' inspired me with its winding ebbs and flows, and lyrics about fearlessly voyaging into the unknown.
One record you would keep forever?
R: 'Dots and Loops' by Stereolab. It’s simply the best album by the best band. A unique exercise in cool ranch drum ’n’ bass, aided by the glorious John McIntyre
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'You are Not an Island' by Vanishing Twin. Maybe it’s just the way Cathy sings them…
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Light Fantastic' by Eric Copeland. It WILL, get you skanking like a fool.
A song you wished you had written?
'Spaceway 70' by Bruno Pernadas. It shifts groove when you least expect it, without ever being jarring. It’s effortless to listen to, but impossibly complex to write.
Best song to turn up loud?
'W.B' by The Fall. It’s all in the drums, and Mark E. Smith’s intoxicating vocals: part-horse shit, part prophet.
Best song to bring people together?
E: 'Expensive Shit' by Fela Kuti. Dance music for the ages.
R: The sound of gearing up for cosmic takeover.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Pure Morning' by Placebo. His voice is so annoying but f*ck me yes those guitars are immense.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Halleluwah' by CAN. Only the true sesh-lords make it to Halleluwah, and only the hardest amongst those make it to the end of Halleluwah.
Any new bands you are listening to right now?
Electric Jabala, Pluma and Pom Poko.