Mandrake Handshake consists of anywhere between seven and ten members—a true collective, hailing from London and spreading what they call Flowerkraut. A fitting description, though Space Beach might be even better.
Earth-Sized Worlds (Tip Top) marks their debut album, bringing these self-coined genres to life. Imagine Space Beach and Flowerkraut, and you’ll land pretty much exactly where Mandrake Handshake sounds.
Tropical rhythms, space pop, dub, and psych blend into an elegantly smooth sound. Thankfully, despite their large lineup, they keep things focused—avoiding the overstuffed feel that often plagues bigger collectives. Instead, the album remains cohesive and airy throughout.
There’s even a certain narrative arc, with the record taking a darker turn past the halfway point. Barranmode feels urgent and eerie, but the title track eventually embraces warmth, playfully resolving any lingering tension.
Before that, we get standout tracks like the kraut-infused Hypersonic Super-Asteroid—a wonderfully tangled psych piece that never gets too sticky. A strong debut!
Mandrake Handshake – Earth-Sized Worlds: Playful psych pop. – RIFL
