TRUBROT Mandala '72 ORIGINAL ICELAND PROG PSYCH LP HEAR

$

50

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

TRUBROT "Mandala"

Original 1972 LP on a private DENMARK label, TR 1

Cover:  VG++, light ringwear

Vinyl:  Plays VG+ with some scattered pops

You’d think with a title like Mandala, this would be Icelandic rock Gods Trubrot’s trippiest little twelve-incher.  That would be true in most of the world.  But this is Iceland.  The place that gave us Bjork and Sigur Ros.  They do things differently up there. 

So yeah, Mandala is actually a return to a more simplified sound for Trubrot, the band that once gave us a five-minute mini-opera based on Richard Wagner’s Tannhauser.  And it’s sung in English.  And while the title track does have a certain floaty mystical edge to it, thanks to some constantly spiraling (and massively flanged) string section, Trubrot often sound amazingly similar to early America on this album, adopting a very simple, very melodic pop sound on songs like “Drifting” and “Down By The Water,” which even sounds like an America title!  Which isn’t a bad thing, mind you – the world can never have enough stoned pastoral harmony rock, sez I.  And Mandala is certainly filled to the brim with enough bouncy, catchy and dreamlike pop melodies to make up for both Hat Trick and “Muskrat Love”.  And who could argue with a song as instantly lovable as “Today,” whose carefree bouncy pop vibe sounds like a long-lost Paul McCartney and Wings single.  Who knew music this normal could come out of Iceland?

So Mandala ain’t the mystical Buddhist mindf*** you might’ve expected from the title.  And it’s not the Richard Wagner tribute album with sixty-piece orchestra you might’ve expected from their past exploits.  But Mandala is an excellent little harmony pop album.  Pure and simple.  I bet it was recorded in another country.

 HEAR IT!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.