Pekka Airaksinen’s Mangala is a landmark album blending experimental electronic and jazz influences, originally composed in 1986, recorded in 1998, and remixed for its 2015 reissue. The LP features five expansive works, including the title track Mangala, which Airaksinen described as capturing moods reminiscent of Miles Davis and Urban Sax at the Pori Jazz Festival. The album’s soundworld is complex, timeless, and immersive, with King of Snakes symbolizing the force that overcomes evil. This release opens a window onto some of Airaksinen’s most profound and previously hard-to-find compositions, showcasing his unique fusion of abstract textures and dynamic rhythms. With striking artwork by Airaksinen himself, Mangala stands as a testament to his visionary creativity and enduring influence in experimental music.
We've seen a lot of oddities reissued over the last few years, but few come close to capturing the bewildering brilliance of this bizarre album, resurfacing now on a first-ever vinyl pressing of this gem. Mangala is completely different world and time, maybe out of time. It is complex and exiting. King of Snakes is about force that overcomes evil. Some people think this is Airaksinen`s best composition. This record gives opportunity to hear some of his best works not been available before. 5 works of perfection and beauty.