Mantra by Trabants
Trabants’ latest fuzzed-out, visceral, psychedelic surf experience is a two-track, 7-inch, 45-rpm vinyl containing the songs “Mantra” b/w “Surfers On Acid”- a record in two parts, side-A and side-B, mind and body represented by each, creating the soundtrack to a voyage inside the listener themselves. It’s a sonic trip to other worlds, where fuzz is the primary alchemical ingredient to fuse surf instrumentals with psychedelia.
“Mantra” takes on the aspect of mind as the ultimate psych-rock instrumental. It fuses the best elements of Eastern-influenced psychedelic music and classic surf with its meditative drones, trippy backwards guitar and big expansive chorus. The primal fuzz of the guitar harmonizes with glockenspiels and chimes as its hypnotic core guides you through your inner mind like a repeating mantra. It’s a personal journey inward to the root of existence.
“Surfers on Acid” takes on the aspect of the body. There’s a sense of urgency in this distinctly un-traditional surf song’s push and pull. Notes will hesitate, precariously holding on, riding this psychedelic wave of color to its improvised backwards guitar ending. It was recorded to tape, embracing the bleed, not doing punch-ins, and riding full takes to their completion. Penna’s expert guitar mastery is on full display amid his groovy labyrinthine melodies and solos.
The sounds should inspire your own art in any shape or form that it may take. Mantra is personal. Mantra is honed. Mantra is the temple. Mantra is pure. Mantra is love distilled into its simplest form. Each of us living beings has a Mantra within us and if we are willing to listen, we may find a wiser version of ourselves reflecting back in the mirror of the future.
Tracklist
| 1. | Mantra | 2:47 |
| 2. | Surfers on Acid | 2:52 |
Credits
Written, recorded and mixed by Eric Penna at Hemstreet Sound in Portland, OR
Dave Berkham - bass
Anthony Brisson (coordination) - drums
Eric Penna - Guitars, percussion
Design/Layout J.A. De Haan
Cover Art Jess Rotter
Mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East
Special Thanks:
Glenn Brigman
Pete Curry
Stu Pope
Marten Roark
Miles Senzaki
Luke Strahota
License
All rights reserved.
Named after the diminutive and once ubiquitous Eastern European automobile, Trabants is a rotating line-up of musicians who find their muse in the dusty bins of 60's beat records.
Fronted by composer Eric Penna, they play an all-instrumental mix of surf, garage, psych and soundtrack music from around the world.