Mank - Death Studies (2002)

Mankymusic

Lastfm

• IDM
• Dark ambient
• Neoclassical
• Experimentalism
• Post-industrial
• Darkwave
• Musique concrète
• Illbient
• Dark electro

Outstanding tracks:

Qabalistic Geometry

Sympathy

Requiem For A Train Crash 

Mank - Erleichda (2003)

Mankymusic

Lastfm

• Downtempo
• Emotive electronica
• Folktronica
• Minimalism
• Chamber music
• Ambient techno
• Kosmische Musik
• Dark ambient

Outstanding tracks:

Forest Hill

Stopping The World

Misinterpreted Love

12 O Clock And Pissed Again

Mank - Gutta Percha (2013)

Mankymusic

9.6

/Experimental electronica, Musique concrète, Chilltronica, Abstract, Mood music, Downtempo, Ambient techno/

Comment: Mank is an one-man outfit by Ben Powell who has been issuing a string of albums over the years. Curiously, as an experienced producer of having been active since the back end of the 90s he has recorded some of his albums whilst biding time after a work day on the boards of specific ships (the icebreakers, expedition ships). Furthermore, there could be assumed Powell is fascinated of borealic terrains and arctic beauty. In any cases, his recent 11-track issue is an arresting amalgamation of mesmeric, glacial-alike glimpses and snowy flickers, towering hypnagogic synth whiffs, and trance-y bubbling being interlaced or being a part of slightly evolving, simmering propulsions. Indeed, the listener can imagine her/himself to be sitting in the midst of a cold landscape or at the top of an iceberg wrapped up in a very warm blanket. Despite the rhythms the progressions conjure up the kind of still life. On the whole, the issue is both emotively and formally executed wherein abstract, cerebral appearances are mixed up with moody motes and seeds, however, thereby drawing in the listener without reservation.

Mank - Esoteria (2011)

Mankymusic
Lastfm

8.8

/Ambient, Modern classical, Chillout, Soundscape, Epic, New Age, Downtempo, Dystopbient/

Comment: Mank is a lone wolf from Wales, having been involved in making of music since the 90s. Moreover, he heads up a records, Mankymusic. However, this album includes 10 tracks with the total time of a bit more than one hour. The recent sonic combinations by him can be reified as a series of pictures based on icy yet somewhat warm impressions illustrating the kind of still life coming from the Northern Pole or the Arctic climate horizon (in fact, he used to have real experiences related to this realm). In a more concrete way, his soundscapes base on picturesque progressions backed up with mid-tempo gears (similar . The last track Anhedronia gets involved in running as a more modern classic-based arrangement. In a nutshell, this is a majestic and beautiful issue.