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LP
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FTR 330LP
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"Unlike World War 3 II, which referred to the second album by that thuggish UK band, or Manfred Mann's Chapter III, which referred to the third outfit led by Mr. Mann, Manas III is neither the third album by Manas, nor the third iteration of the band. Rather, it refers to the number of participants on the second album by this spectacular Asheville NC unit, previously known primarily as a duo. The two main actors in question are guitarist, Tashi Dorji, and drummer Thom Nguyen. Tashi's earliest recordings were largely acoustic abstractions, lauded by everyone from Ben Chasny to William 'Bill' Nace. Thom's drumming has been part of such legendary Asheville ensembles as the great Mendocino (LP hopefully forthcoming sometime). Together, they presented an electric splat approach to power-improv with parallels to outfits like Rangda and OvO. Their first album, Manas (FTR 208LP, 2015), blew the lips off most people who heard it. For Manas III, percussionist Tyler Damon (who has also recorded with Tashi in a duo format) is added to the mix. His playing brings a whole new width and depth to the proceedings, comprised as it is of varietal clanging and tingling in the tradition of Jamie Muir and those who sail with him. The flavors this adds to the music are alternately proggy and free, and we think you'll agree this trio thing is a blast. Tashi's guitar work is full of static-rich surges that sounds like something Nikola Tesla would dig. And the bottom is a fat and fleet as Queen. We've been complete suckers for everything Tashi has done thus far, and Manas is one of the best projects he's undertaken. Pretty sure Manas III is going to knock you right off your bike. So hang on tight." --Byron Coley, 2017 Front and back cover art by Bill Nace; Edition of 300.
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LP
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FTR 208LP
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"First LP by Manas, a duo comprised of guitarist Tashi Dorji and drummer Thom Nguyen. Tashi, who's based in Asheville NC these days, has been cutting a wide swathe through the guitar underground over the past few years. Originally focused on acoustic weaponry, he has added electric guitar to his arsenal, without giving up any of the weird angular bite of his initial work. Thom is known to have played with a couple of Asheville free rock bands, Nest Egg and Mendocino, but this is the first exposure his excellent work will be having outside of Buncombe County. As a duo, Manas explores lots of improvisational ground, ranging from extreme sideways expansions of sonics texture -- with Tashi's guitar moving decisively outward while Thom's drums explode in a mostly (but not entirely) parallel plane -- to repetitive reflecto passages that curl up into a tight ball before achieving escape velocity. The record is a blast, with deceptively arch liner notes by none other than Ben Chasny, who has been one of Tashi's loudest cheerleaders for many a moon. But we can't really blame Ben. This Manas LP makes us wanna shout about team spirit too. Guh! Guh! Guh!" --Byron Coley, 2015. Limited Edition of 400.
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