Mandala Vol. 1, Polysonic Flows is the fourth Mello Music Group compilation -- previous compilations include Mental Liberation, Helpless Dreamer, and Self Sacrifice.
With ten distinctive producers behind the boards, the soundscapes on Mandala Vol. 1, Polysonic Flows cover the map and the album is all the better for it. Oddisee of course helms the opener and tracks throughout with a musicality like few in Hip-Hop today. L'Orange brings subtle, jazzy suites to the table, and Quelle Chris provides dusty samples looped over hard-hitting drums as well as anyone else on the record. Jeremiah Jae also makes sure the bass-rattling, electronic bangers coming out of L.A.'s beat scene are well represented. Nothing here is solely run-of-the-mill boom-bap. Each beat is far richer and more inventive, able to play on its own and provide the perfect complement to the raps at hand.