Album Review: Dätcha Mandala – Hara (Mrs Red Sound)

Over the years, French heavy blues trio Dätcha Mandala have found the perfect balance between material and spiritual thoughts, providing a sensorial experience directly inspired by the sonic effervescence of the 70s. The Bordeaux-based blues rockers seduce with their high-powered guitars, transcendental voices and this generous energy of theirs. Their musical esthetics falls within a blend of mystical psychedelia and oriental-tinged sounds.

Since 2009, Dätcha Mandala have performed more than 550 shows through Europe and North America. In 2017, they supported famous French rock trio Les Insus (former Téléphone) in an arena in front of a 35,000 people! The same year, they released their fully analog debut album “Rokh” through Mrs Red Sound (label founded by Mars Red Sky), which was produced by Clive Martin (Queen, Tom Yorke, The Cure, Midnight oil, Skunk Anansie). Hundred of gigs later, the French prodigies returned to the studio to record their sophomore and ecologically conscious album “Hara”, due out June 5th 2020 via Mrs Red Sound.

A banging groove to get Hara started, Stick It Out’s bluesy and heavy riffs are very appealing and made all the catchier by the old-school rock vocals. It’s followed by the dusty guitar twang of Mother God and rocking upbeat tempo of Who You Are. The latter going wild with a harmonica for added pep.

Talking of which, the country-blues style jam of Missing Blues is fun but thankfully short. Before Morning Song gets a bit mellow; the keyboard, soft drum taps and strong vocal performance making quite an impact.

You certainly can’t say that Hara isn’t varied while never straying too far from Dätcha Mandala’s 70’s-inspired rock sound. Delivering constantly feel-good music, the chugging rhythm of Sick Machine is so catchy, while Moha delivers bassy hallucinogenic groove and Eht Bup has a bit of a wilder side. A flurry of riffs and drums but still condensed into Dätcha Mandala’s exciting brand of bluesy rock and roll.

Another melodramatic effort with Tit’s leads to On the Road’s super-chilled effort, a track that really does embody the feel of empty highways snaking through dark deserts. Before Pavot wraps up Hara with an energetic, pedal to the metal effort. A hyper way to finish off a banger of a rock album.

Dätcha Mandala – Hara Full Track Listing:

1. Stick It Out
2. Mother God
3. Who You Are
4. Missing Blues
5. Morning Song
6. Sick Machine
7. Moha
8. Eht Bup
9. Tit’s
10. On The Road
11. Pavot

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