I’m quite open-minded and not shy of experiment, but I must admit that listening to the first couple of tracks of Mandible Chatter’s new album got my eyebrows raised. The childish bedroom melodies and Russian lyrics combined with noises had the least to do with music. This kind of experimental composition keeps returning all through the album. Luckily with a more solid musical foundation. The range of influences and references, sounds and noises used on the album is incredible. Mandible Chatter form them into tracks with a lot of different ambiences and atmospheres. In this way it sounds a little bit like the most experimental fragments on Porcupine Tree albums.

Usually a certain atmosphere is forced upon the listener. One of the best aspects of “Of Foreign Lands And People” is the gentle way in which atmospheres are being built up and transformed into other soundscapes. It all has a sort of lightness which makes this album a nice experience in the background while you’re studying, reading or writing reviews. This is however no album to test the maximum loudness of your speakers. Although the album is a nice experience, I have doubts whether I will play it more than three or four times.