manet - dolomiten

Manet

Dolomiten
self-released; 2013

4.0 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

More often than not album covers are not indicative of the music that you are going to be hearing when you spin the music. That’s why I was impressed by the cover art for Dolomiten by Manet, which displays an eerie mountaintop covered in a grayish hue. The longer you stare at it the creepier it gets and eventually it emanates an ominous cloud of loneliness and isolation just like the music. The music as well as the album cover create a sense of space as if its being played on a mountaintop (he cleverly does this by placing hall type reverbs on the drums and using dark airy synths). 

There are four songs on this EP, which are all instrumental and all original works of art that differentiate themselves from other ambient artists. Manet’s use of organic drums is well done.The kit is played lightly and never seems out of place amongst the music. At certain points he adds the perfect amount of effects to compliment the music. It’s subtle and never seems to be misused. Take for instance the first track “ Dolomiten” where he adds a slight delay to the drums that fits the dark atmosphere of synths and what sounds like the crackling of a vinyl record.

The second track “The Log” moves into even darker territory. At this point it feels as if I am lost within the terrain and darkness with almost no chance of escape. Hardly any light is found between the dark textures that change within micro scales. It is the micro changes that happen within the song that really make the darkness such a beautiful thing. By the end of the track I feel like I am no longer lost in a mountain but hanging out in the deepest, saddest jazz bar this side of David Lynch.

The album closes with “Shrouded Hill,” which has the overt jazz influence. The horns towards the end are some of the saddest I have heard since Talk Talk’s laughing stock.

This is an album that you will want to explore and it is highly recommended. If you ever enjoyed the music that played during Twin Peaks this will be your favorite EP of this year.

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