Mana, aka Daniele Mana, is onto his second release with Hyperdub, and Seven Steps Behind begs for several listens to process its entirety. Mired in an industrial apocalyptic sound, Mana works with digital creation on Seven Steps Behind to create sounds that so closely mimic their organic instrumentation, it's hard to tell the difference.
Both "Talking Choking" and closer and title track "Seven Steps Behind" employ this remarkably well, with wistful sounds of cello and deep throbs of organ amongst the spread of synths that overtake the tracks. Mana doesn't wade, but rather jumps into Seven Steps Behind, with its first full track "Myopia for the Future," an upbeat affair when compared to the rest of the album, working in guitar-like synths and bouncing progressions.
The light shadow this track casts, along with single "Solo" and its plucky harpsichord, is at odds with the visually barren, musically twisted industrial fantasy the album engages in. However, the scattered placement of these tracks across the way softens their slightly jarring appearance. Seven Steps Behind is an album that, for the most part, has found its footing with a few missteps along the way.
(Hyperdub)Both "Talking Choking" and closer and title track "Seven Steps Behind" employ this remarkably well, with wistful sounds of cello and deep throbs of organ amongst the spread of synths that overtake the tracks. Mana doesn't wade, but rather jumps into Seven Steps Behind, with its first full track "Myopia for the Future," an upbeat affair when compared to the rest of the album, working in guitar-like synths and bouncing progressions.
The light shadow this track casts, along with single "Solo" and its plucky harpsichord, is at odds with the visually barren, musically twisted industrial fantasy the album engages in. However, the scattered placement of these tracks across the way softens their slightly jarring appearance. Seven Steps Behind is an album that, for the most part, has found its footing with a few missteps along the way.