MENDOCINO

Mendocino biography
Mendocino were a North American krautrock collective playing droning psych/raga/free folk jams based in Asheville, North Carolina. The group featured members of folk/drone ensembles Aswara and Death Chants, and while the full lineup of Mendocino's players remains incomplete, identified musicians were Thom Nguyen of Manas and Nest Egg along with Rafi Bookstaber and Paul Grimes, both of Death Chants and Von Himmel.

From 2013 to 2015, Mendocino released nine private press cassettes on Bookstaber's micro-label Old Man Tapes in extremely limited editions, culled from weekly improvisation sessions recorded at their rehearsal house. The band's intensely stoned and lo-fidelity vibes have been described by Volcanic Tongue as "rural Taj Mahal Travellers-plays-Siloah" and "[Grateful] Dead-plays-Dusseldorf".

Mendocino should be an enticing listen for fans of Sunburned Hand of the Man, German Oak, Brast Burn, Ash Ra Tempel and Sylvester Anfang II.


- Gordy, March 2024