IAIN MANN ft SANDY'S — the visionary album Magic Tracks

Magic Tracks is the debut album by UK-based American singer-songwriter Iain Mann. Produced by Mann in collaboration with Alexi Glickman of Sandy’s, the warm sounds of Magic Tracks convey Mann’s colorful portraits of heroes, villains, and loved ones. Raised in Berkeley, CA and Lima, Peru, and currently based in London, UK, Mann wrote and recorded the album during Covid-19 quarantine time, sheltering with his wife and kids in Edinburgh, Scotland. Consequently, their voices pepper the songs, adding an extra charm. Other parts were recorded by musicians in Berlin, Los Angeles, Marin County, Oakland, and Seattle.

This remarkable new album release showcases Mann’s range as a singer, songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, recalling the vibes of The White Album and Smiley Smile, the songcraft of Big Star, and the late-night tales of Elliott Smith. Mann and co-producer Alexi Glickman met in college at UC Santa Cruz more than 20 years ago, then played together in a band called Lesterjett and developed a friendship forged over the pursuit of timeless and transcendent songwriting. Fittingly, the album’s title track 'Magic Tracks' was inspired by a psilocybin experience which called Iain back to those years among the ancient redwood forests of Santa Cruz. “I was visited by crazy, dancing sages - the Buddha was there, and so was Professor Calculus from Tintin - and the ancient roots of California's sequoias revealed many secrets. The geometry of the walls dissolved, and when I came back from the trip, I was free from depression for the first time in years,” says Mann.

'Fugue of the Wino (Con Fuga De Wayno)' and 'Saya For Molly' both pull from Mann’s childhood years spent in Peru and his ensuing fascination with Andean folk music. The former track’s folk music outro was played by Mann himself on quena, charango and guitar, while the latter’s rhythm is based on the Afro-Bolivian Saya. 'Room For You' is a plea for the return of tolerance, “a vision for what comes after the age of division,” as Mann puts it. 'Max' was “written for a good friend. Our protagonist, Max, a troubled music scholar, is uncovering lost connections between JS Bach and Isaac Newton. Misunderstood and persecuted, but smarter and tougher than all the naysayers.” The closing sequence of 'Baby Zora', 'Sandy Says', 'Nothing On California', and 'Alright Here' seems to nod to Paul McCartney’s Side B medley on Abbey Road. 'Nothing On California' was “written while I was living on a narrowboat in England, dreaming of road trips under big American skies,” adds Mann.

Iain Mann by Chris GalleyIain Mann by Chris GalleyIain Mann by Chris GalleyIain Mann ft Sandy's - Magic Tracks - album cover artwork

Album tasters 'Max', 'Room For You' and 'Magic Tracks'...

Iain Mann is joined by a wonderful cast of musicians including multi-instrumentalist Alexi Glickman (Sandy’s); drummers Jeremy Black (Apollo Sunshine), Cody Rhodes (Skyway Man, Curls), and Rob Mills (French Cassettes, Spooky Mansion); vocalist Xo Mai Eng-Mann; and childhood friend Lorenzo Farrell, whose organ playing adds a distinctive touch to the album, recalling Procol Harum and The Band. Alongside Alexi Glickman, David Glasebrook mixed and mastered the album at his studio in Oakland, CA, while Austin, TX based graphic artist William Gaynor designed the album cover, inspired by Mann’s rebirth amid the redwoods.

Iain Mann ft Sandy's - Magic Tracks CDIain Mann ft Sandy's - Magic Tracks cassette

Release details

Album credits

For more info please contact...

Mal Smith & Chris Carr

Delta PR

• deltapr@delta-music.co.uk

• www.delta-pr.com