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Mandalay — Insensible
Album: Empathy
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 998









Released: 1998
Length: 4:41
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I pulled a loose thread
I gathered you in
Discovered I could
A pivot for your sun

You invited me in
As if it's nothing
We tread on old ground
As if it's nothing now

It's like I hardly see the sky some days
It's like you hardly said a word
It's like I hardly see the sky some days
And I'd do better if I turned my head
Knowing you did

I wouldn't be here
If you could have said no
I wouldn't have come here
If ever I had known

It's like I hardly see the sky some days
It's like you hardly said a word
It's like I hardly see the sky some days
And I'd do better if I turned my head
Knowing you did

Knowing you called
Knowing you held her
Knowing you kissed
Knowing you did all this

It's like I hardly see the sky some days
It's like you hardly said a word
It's like I hardly see the sky some days
And I'd do better if I turned my head
Knowing you did.
Comments (83)add comment
 spaceman wrote:

A litte story about this album, since I didn't see it mentioned in the comments yet: I bought this album at a flea market in Vienna, Austria. It was labeled "Portishead - Pearl", so I thought it was an obscure new Portishead album. When I listened to it, I just thought "man, that band really grows from one album to the next"... I completely fell for the hoax. Then it turned out that someone had very expertly repackaged Mandalay's "Empathy" as a Portishead album, complete with new cover, liner notes, etc. Neither band seems very amused, but all I can say is that I never regretted that I bought it (I had never heard of Mandalay before). The only thing I do regret: there was a very nice girl at the flea market who wanted to buy the same disk. I wish I had known what it was then... it would have been the perfect conversation starter :)




same happened to me ... at a flea market in Russia ... very pleasant discovery!
Posted 4 months ago by erdbeerita    [ Reply ]
 smartn1 wrote:

Gets to me after a while. Too much vibrato. 




...but that's a primary part of it's simple, deeply expressive emotional perfection.
Posted 1 year ago by spetrie    [ Reply ]
 lukekingland wrote:
WHY is this getting such a low rating?! I hope it's not because it is "Like Tori". This is easily one of my favorite songs played on RP, kinda depressing to see so many people don't like it :verysorry:



My sentiments. Deserves at least an 8 for sure
Posted 1 year ago by spetrie    [ Reply ]
excellent use of silence in this song
Posted 2 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
 smartn1 wrote:

Gets to me after a while. Too much vibrato. 



Same. It sounds too forced.
Posted 2 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
exciting music/ takes you away in fear and love
Posted 2 years ago by gudi.hasivar    [ Reply ]
Gets to me after a while. Too much vibrato. 
Posted 2 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
"Alright, Mandalay, I think we're ready to lay this first track down. By the way, my name is Bruce Dickinson. Yes, the Bruce Dickinson. And I gotta tell you: fellas.. you have got what appears to be a dynamite sound!  But I gotta hear more vibrato and snare drum."
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
Posted 2 years ago by Hippostar    [ Reply ]
Music for the Mack Down. Sexy AF
Posted 2 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Nice!
Posted 3 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
Loving it <3
Posted 3 years ago by rhys1    [ Reply ]
I like Trip Hop
Posted 3 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
It's like Guy Harvey in the sky? 
Posted 3 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
Wow these guys are great. I hope there as deep and interesting as Porcpine Tree
Posted 4 years ago by Oxen1morale    [ Reply ]
Damn, I rated this a 7 at some point. Hearing it now is like listening to they hybrid child of Tori Amos and Kate Bush, which just doesn't work. (I love Kate, BTW. Tori not so much)
Posted 4 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
I always thought this was Kate Moss. I <3 trip hop.
Posted 4 years ago by forge    [ Reply ]
 lukekingland wrote:
WHY is this getting such a low rating?! I hope it's not because it is "Like Tori". This is easily one of my favorite songs played on RP, kinda depressing to see so many people don't like it :verysorry:
 
Not to worry.  I think it's very trippy, ethereal and wonderful.  Her voice is childlike and beautiful!

Posted 5 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by clickfaster    [ Reply ]
sorry, I tried, but I can't.
Posted 5 years ago by Larrygrrl    [ Reply ]
Fucking horrible
Posted 5 years ago by shakylegs    [ Reply ]
Old_Pool_Skunk wrote:
Stop shaking that poor singer.
Someone buy her a drink, quick! Maybe the shaking will stop.
Posted 19 years ago by Ichthyologist    [ Reply ]
lukekingland wrote:
WHY is this getting such a low rating?!
because it's terrible? I'm thinking if she teamed up with Bright Eyes we'd all have nervous breakdowns in 3 minutes.
Posted 19 years ago by yogaboat    [ Reply ]
lukekingland wrote:
WHY is this getting such a low rating?! I hope it's not because it is "Like Tori". This is easily one of my favorite songs played on RP, kinda depressing to see so many people don't like it :verysorry:
Hmmm...now I fell kinda bad for giving it a 2. However, being a Dave Matthews fan, I feel your pain.
Posted 19 years ago by betterdaze    [ Reply ]
Her voice makes me nervous, but I like everything else about the song.
Posted 19 years ago by timandjuliet    [ Reply ]
WHY is this getting such a low rating?! I hope it's not because it is "Like Tori". This is easily one of my favorite songs played on RP, kinda depressing to see so many people don't like it :verysorry:
Posted 19 years ago by lukekingland    [ Reply ]
Stop shaking that poor singer.
Posted 19 years ago by Old_Pool_Skunk    [ Reply ]
GOOD,BUT TORI IS BETTER! :roll:
Posted 19 years ago by Foreverfree    [ Reply ]
jayladdin wrote:
Too much like Tori for me...
Eew, yes. With a big glob of Bjork thrown in for pseudo vibrato. Domo arigato, Mr. Vibrato.
Posted 19 years ago by hagofthemill    [ Reply ]
A litte story about this album, since I didn't see it mentioned in the comments yet: I bought this album at a flea market in Vienna, Austria. It was labeled "Portishead - Pearl", so I thought it was an obscure new Portishead album. When I listened to it, I just thought "man, that band really grows from one album to the next"... I completely fell for the hoax. Then it turned out that someone had very expertly repackaged Mandalay's "Empathy" as a Portishead album, complete with new cover, liner notes, etc. Neither band seems very amused, but all I can say is that I never regretted that I bought it (I had never heard of Mandalay before). The only thing I do regret: there was a very nice girl at the flea market who wanted to buy the same disk. I wish I had known what it was then... it would have been the perfect conversation starter :)
Posted 19 years ago by spaceman    [ Reply ]
Clicked in to RP this morning and this exquisite voice was the first thing I heard. I'm so sorry I missed hearing it from the beginning of the song. But please play this some more!
Posted 19 years ago by GWillacker    [ Reply ]
EleventhMan wrote:
sounds like Madonna.... that was not a compliment...
Sadly, Madonna says this is one of her favorite bands... I happen to think they're reminicent of Coctaeu Twins, and that's why I like 'em a whole lot. Sexy is right.
Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity    [ Reply ]
I'm in the minority here. I like it. It's sexy.
Posted 19 years ago by designerGirl    [ Reply ]
"Mandalay Industries! Say Mandalay Industries!!!"
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Beanie wrote:
And, sorry to be the spelling police, but it's "vibrato".
absolutely right! verbrado is a fried spinach pasta. :?
Posted 19 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
sounds like Madonna.... that was not a compliment...
Posted 19 years ago by EleventhMan    [ Reply ]
gntlemanartist wrote:
She sounds like she's performing at high altitude and is short of breath. It's painful.
I came over to suggest perhaps she was shivering while singing.
Posted 19 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
gntlemanartist wrote:
She sounds like she's performing at high altitude and is short of breath. It's painful.
Agreed. Perhaps someone switched her oxygen tank for helium...
Posted 19 years ago by diane    [ Reply ]
She sounds like she's performing at high altitude and is short of breath. It's painful.
Posted 20 years ago by gntlemanartist    [ Reply ]
mig7 wrote:
Madonna Amos
Yes. I was thinking the very same thing.
Posted 20 years ago by Dais    [ Reply ]
Wow!
Posted 20 years ago by tokei    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Nitin Sawhney was involved too...
Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Madonna Amos
Posted 20 years ago by mig7    [ Reply ]
1jerry wrote:
kinda interesting minimalist breathy sorta thing. I'll see how it sounds the second time.
I am proud to say I started uploading Mandalay songs along time agon when I noticed they didn't have any. Good to see some are in play now! :)
Posted 20 years ago by Atrail    [ Reply ]
Boosiewolf wrote:
That is HILARIOUSLY put. I was thinking singing while riding on a bumpy road. I'm not a heavy verbrado fan.
I was thinking that Tori and Stevie Nicks had conceived a love child together. And, sorry to be the spelling police, but it's "vibrato".
Posted 20 years ago by Beanie    [ Reply ]
What is the rest of the disc like, good?
Posted 20 years ago by GolfRomeo    [ Reply ]
I think it is pretty, and fairly original.
Posted 20 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
qbee wrote:
Sounds like someone put Tori Amos in the paint mixer.
That is HILARIOUSLY put. I was thinking singing while riding on a bumpy road. I'm not a heavy verbrado fan.
Posted 20 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
Not bad... what else does Rp have of them in the upcoming lineup? I gave it a 7.
Posted 20 years ago by ChicagoVWchic77    [ Reply ]
soulspin wrote:
I can see the Kate Bush similarity maybe, but definitely not Tori... I like it.
Sounds like Madonna
Posted 20 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
I can see the Kate Bush similarity maybe, but definitely not Tori... I like it.
Posted 20 years ago by soulspin    [ Reply ]
ahhhhhhhhhhh, Madonna's favorite band. She's got good taste, don't ya think?
Posted 20 years ago by Hasty_Manic    [ Reply ]
qbee wrote:
Sounds like someone put Tori Amos in the paint mixer.
And set it to "Mulch"
Posted 20 years ago by ndanger666    [ Reply ]
i like this one... mellow... but i agree that pause stinks in the middle...
Posted 21 years ago by plundis    [ Reply ]
qbee wrote:
Sounds like someone put Tori Amos in the paint mixer.
or singing through a fan. ... and that annoying tease of a pause as if the song is over. It's a tease because I wish it WERE over.
Posted 21 years ago by cdanthony    [ Reply ]
qbee wrote:
Sounds like someone put Tori Amos in the paint mixer.
Couldn't have said it better.
Posted 21 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
Sounds like she is stumbling over the beat of the music. Unfortunately the beat of the music is going nowhere.
Posted 21 years ago by LEFTY6    [ Reply ]
Sounds like someone put Tori Amos in the paint mixer.
Posted 21 years ago by qbee    [ Reply ]
Too much like Tori for me...
Posted 21 years ago by jayladdin    [ Reply ]
her voice can get annoying at times. too vibrating but her voice suits the songs and the lyrics to the song. well done mandalay!!!!
Posted 21 years ago by Drunkenlilacwine    [ Reply ]
very cool. nice and mellow.
Posted 21 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Dave_Mack wrote:
Can't handle that tremble in her voice.
Exactly. Sounds like she's singing in a car going down a bumpy road!
Posted 21 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
What a bad Portishead rip-off and the singer\'s voice is so annoying.
Posted 21 years ago by deadline    [ Reply ]
Definitly sounds a lot like Kate Bush... :D Jason
Posted 21 years ago by TheLongshot    [ Reply ]
Can't handle that tremble in her voice.
Posted 21 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by philarktos: And what do I find,somewhat less than helpfully, but a lot of so-and-so as a so-and-so "Wannabe" which is charge that I would like to see dropped from the statutes of pop culture.
For musicians, I guess there's a fine line between incorporating influences into one's sound and borrowing a bit too heavily from them. I'd say, this singer is influenced by Kate Bush and expresses that influence well. This singer (don't know her name, sorry) still has her own voice. If all the singers who were influenced by Billie Holiday were shot down for "being wannabes," we would never have heard of several, possibly many great singers (Janis Joplin comes to mind in the context of RP).
Posted 21 years ago by brighthue    [ Reply ]
This zen girl orig. from Vancouver is in absolute agreement with the Buddhist Bear of the same fair city.
Originally Posted by philarktos: And what do I find,somewhat less than helpfully, but a lot of so-and-so as a so-and-so "Wannabe" which is charge that I would like to see dropped from the statutes of pop culture. When I note a similarity, I just DON"T WANT TO GO THERE, thank you very much. I just find it very distastefully pretentious to dis someone's creativity solely based on my own perceptions and assumptions.
Posted 21 years ago by Koan    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by eric: So true :) I guess she's a wannabe Kate Bush by the transitive property of wannabeity.
Kate is amazing, Tori is borderline amazing and this is bliss as well. Thumbs up. CWH
Posted 21 years ago by serene23    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by Johray63: Hypnotic. I like the transparent production very much. Everything is very clear and all those little, mystical noises coming through, really soothing.
Exactly. Forgot what I had got on about last comment but today "hypnotic" was the word in mind. Also love the subtle catches in the singer's voice.
Posted 21 years ago by philarktos    [ Reply ]
Hmm, ok .. shoot me, but the intro sounded totally late-era Madonna..(and I would rather hear that).
Posted 21 years ago by ajudd    [ Reply ]
Is this the lead singer of Portishead? There was some rumor started and files were on the net that suggested this was a bootlegged Portishead song or something like that. Are the bands related in anyway? Sounds similar but... Either way, keep both bands playing!
Posted 21 years ago by revevad1    [ Reply ]
Hypnotic. I like the transparent production very much. Everything is very clear and all those little, mystical noises coming through, really soothing.
Posted 21 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
Came here to check this group out, the soloist had struck me along the lines of \"coolest new sound since RP introduced me to FrouFrou(Imogen)\" And what do I find,somewhat less than helpfully, but a lot of so-and-so as a so-and-so \"Wannabe\" which is charge that I would like to see dropped from the statutes of pop culture. When I note a similarity, I just DON\"T WANT TO GO THERE, thank you very much. I just find it very distastefully pretentious to dis someone\'s creativity solely based on my own perceptions and assumptions.
Posted 21 years ago by philarktos    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by TreborG2: ooooooh... this is just sweet, late nightie, groovin' chill stuff...Very nice!!! Kickin' in a bit -o the bass..
And just now I was wondering if this was Tori Amos.. cause it sounded like her at first.. :) very very cool!
Posted 21 years ago by TreborG2    [ Reply ]
I\'m willing to bet that Madonna wishes she had this level of vocal capability...
Posted 21 years ago by mksothrpeoplrich    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by camarkim: Tori Amos is generally terrible (especially live in concert even with a free ticket...) but wannabe Tori is ten-times worse! Wait!! So does that make this singer wannabe Tori Amos who herself is a wannabe Kate Bush?
So true :) I guess she's a wannabe Kate Bush by the transitive property of wannabeity.
Posted 21 years ago by eric    [ Reply ]
ooooooh... this is just sweet, late nightie, groovin\' chill stuff... Very nice!!! Kickin\' in a bit -o the bass..
Posted 21 years ago by TreborG2    [ Reply ]
Tori Amos is generally terrible (especially live in concert even with a free ticket...) but wannabe Tori is ten-times worse! Wait!! So does that make this singer wannabe Tori Amos who herself is a wannabe Kate Bush?
Posted 21 years ago by camarkim    [ Reply ]
Great song -- I love this album, and it\'s great to be able to hear it on RP! Thanks, Bill.
Posted 21 years ago by Pilgrim301    [ Reply ]
Sounds a bit like warmed-over Tori Amos. Kind of forgettable.
Posted 21 years ago by the_om    [ Reply ]
kinda interesting minimalist breathy sorta thing. I\'ll see how it sounds the second time.
Posted 21 years ago by 1jerry    [ Reply ]