Along with other key tracks like "Memory of Hiroshima" and "Wind Words," "Mandala" remains a cult favorite among fans of 1970s prog-rock and experimental jazz.
It exemplifies a "kaleidoscopic musical cosmos," merging Miles Davis-style electric fusion with primitive, proto-techno beats. Stomu Yamash'ta - Mandala (Part)
Yamash'ta utilizes a vast array of percussion, including struck metal, skin resonance, and tuned percussion, often blending these with synthesizers to create a "hazy soup" of sound. Along with other key tracks like "Memory of
Synthesis of East and West: An Analysis of Stomu Yamash'ta’s "Mandala" including struck metal
Critics from The Quietus note his ability to control timbres within improvised gestures, transitioning seamlessly between live percussion and previously recorded tracks.
The Man from the East (1973), released on Island Records .