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AMG Expert Review
"This two-track single introduced the music of Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda's project, Mandrake's Love Apple. "Elephant Memory" is a scorching raga rock. Zepeda plays his sitar like a rock star (i.e., with attitude). The solid psychedelic groove provided by Steve Pool (drums) and Aaron Earhart (guitar) is a stellar vehicle. "13 Tears of the Purple Cobra" presents the other side of the musician, closer to his training with sitar master Rahul Sakyaputra. A gentle improvisation, it takes the form of a duet with Vine Sweetland on tambura and tabla. Typically psychedelic, the music is filtered through flanger and echo effects. An excellent first taste; all listeners need now is the main course." - François Couture, All-Music Guide
"Based in Huntington Beach, California, Mandrake's Love Apple is led by sitar player Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda who studied with Rahul Sakyaputra. "Elephant Memory" is a heavy rocking psych tune with Zepeda's sitar functioning in a lead guitar role. It's an interesting combination hearing the heavy driving power rock rhythm section and the sitar, an instrument that can't help sounding trippy. "13 Tears Of The Purple Cobra" is a nice drifting duo of Zepeda on sitar and Vine Sweetland on tabla producing precisely the hypnotic sounds you would imagine from the joining of those two instruments. There's not much to summarize as there's only two songs here but I'll say that I'd love to hear more from Zepeda, especially psych rockers like "Elephant Memory"." - Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations (USA)
"Zemira Production proves to be one of the most interesting labels out there... now, they are bringing us this MANDRAKE'S LOVE APPLE, and in the tradition of the label, on this CD we have high psychedelic tunes - this is stuff I really love actually. This band was formed by Jerry Zepeda, a disciple of the master sitarist Rahul Sakyaputra (you can find a review of his CD on our pages as well). Elephant Memory CD contains only two tracks, produced by Vine Sweetland, but I ensure you these tracks are so nice... in the first track, Elephant Memory, the sitar is user like a rock guitar sometimes, while layers of real distorted guitar actually are the ground on which this elephant walks. No vocals here, but only great feelings and ideas. The second track is far less "rock", it is actually an 'indian dream', where sitar and artificial effects walk togheter gently, like floating on a quite lake... this are the first images that come to my mind listening to this second song. This a really nice CD we can enjoy with friend during a relaxing conversation or while smoking some weed. I'd like to a have a real full lenght out sometime!" - Alex Muraro, Stonedgods.com (The Netherlands)
"På insidan av omslaget sitter nån (vem jag tror är Vine Sweetland) iklädd de regelrätta hippie kläderna på en indisk matta och suttar på en halvmeters bong. Det säger nästan allt. 'Elephant Memory' är en ösig raga rockare med sitar, udu och djimbe. Udu och djimbe är båda mycket exotiska slag instrument. Låten avslutas med en sampling från en trumpetande elefant som passar sig väl med låtens titel. Slutligen följer '13 Tears Of The Purple Cobra'. En mörk och lömsk låt med tabla och tamboura som spelas av Vine Sweetland, som även har producerat singeln. Vine Sweetland har sannerligen med ett finger lite överallt och tillför sin indiska mystik. Vine är ingen producent av hög klass får man nog säga, det låter närmast demo-aktigt. Singeln är släppt på Zemira Productions som har mer skivsläpp av denna typ. Jag skulle framförallt vilja rekommendera Lamp Of The Universe som spelar en liknande typ av indisk kryddad psychedelia, fast i en betydligt högre klass. Både Mandrake's Love Apple och Vine har potential, fast jag tror inte en större bong eller flygande matta skulle hjälpa dom..." - Nisse, StonerPlanet.com (Sweden)
"If you are at all a fan of sixties inspired psychedelica, then most of you should know of the MAN. That man would be Vine Sweetland, renowned American poet and musician. A Jimmy Morrison for our times, a man who seems to have a very clear vision of art and life and the interaction of art with life. I just like to call it, poetry for the soul. Corny? Well too bad, this is what dreams are made of. A long deep walk into the pools of our inner consciousness, our dreams and our darkness. This is a two song EP. This is what made the 60’s and early 70's such a mystic experience, this beautiful flowing of music and ideas in time and space. That era served us well and brought forth an entirely different consciousness, one of peace, light, goodness, kindness and compassion. The era of guru's, love beads, weed - the hippie generation. To me, the era I wish would have remained in our consciousness before all the "me first" invaded the light. 'Elephant Memory' has an ethereal feel to it. This song is purely instrumental, likening back to "Love, Surrender, Devotion" by Carlos Santana and Mahavishnu John McLauglin. Instruments include the sitar, udu, and djimbe. This is hippie music at it's finest. It seems as if everything Vine Sweetland does is touched with gold magic dust. Ringing in at just over 5 minutes, it is essential psychedelic 60's stoner music. Light up that incense and let this wash over your soul. An extremely mellow piece, it fits well with me. '13 Tales of the Purple Cobra' starts out deceptively different, a touch of heaviness had me thinking we were going in another direction. Albeit a subtle one. But no, this is greatness my friends. Another poetic instrumental beauty. For any fan of the psychedelic sixties, or for anyone who has a golden dreams buried in their soul, this is for you. Light up that bong, get the incense going, spread those giant cushions around and enjoy Mandrake’s Love Apple. This is all about the love!" - Deanna St. Croix, Stonerrockchick.com (Canada)
"Based in Huntington beach ( California ) Mandrake's Love Apple is a project formed by Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda who is a disciple of Rahul Sakyaputra. For those of you who know Rahul's music or have read my review of his " Denmark sessions " CD, you already think that psychedelism is the main sensation behind Jerry's music. It's exactly what is coming from the two tracks of this single CD. The CD opens with the titletrack which is performed by Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda ( sitar ), Aaron Earhart ( guitar, udu and djimbe ), Steve Pool ( drums ) and Keith Taylor ( additional bass ). This instrumental number is the most rocking track of the two. Built upon a strong rhythmic structure, this one sounds as a very up to date psych-rock track where Jerry's sitar playing is in total harmony with the rest of the band. Jerry lead his sitar to the universe of rock for a combination which sounds both traditional and modern. The other track entitled "13 tears of the purple cobra" is a more traditional raga number with only sitar, tamboura and tabla ( played by Vine Sweetland ) and where Jerry develops all his talents to play in a smoothier way. This is during this number that an affiliation with Rahul Sakyaputra is hugely visible. So "Elephant memory" is a really nice teaser to discover Jerry's music." - Renaud, Zoopa Loop (France)
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| Performed by: Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda - Sitar; Aaron Earhart - Guitar, Udu, Djimbe; Steve Pool - Drums. Additional Bass by Keith Taylor. |
CD: Elephant Memory (2002)
Label: Zemira Productions
Credits: Written, Arranged, and Conducted by: Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda. Engineered by Keith Taylor. Produced by Vine Sweetland. |
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| Performed by: Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda - Sitar; Vine Sweetland - Tamboura, Tabla. |
CD: Elephant Memory (2002)
Label: Zemira Productions
Credits: Written, Arranged, and Conducted by: Jerry "Mandrake" Zepeda and Vine Sweetland. Engineered by Keith Taylor. Produced by Vine Sweetland. |
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