Manual Awash

2012 EP. Jonas Munk's work as Manual has never sought to radically reinvent itself. Rather, he has spent the time since his debut EP in 2000 perfecting and refining the sound that is so distinctly his own, with each successive album meticulously exploring certain aspects of the Manual sound. Following 2010's magnum opus, Drowned in Light, as well as a full length collaboration with German producer Ulrich Schauss from last year, Awash sees Munk dive into a more synth-heavy sound than usual. Electronic music from the 1990s seems to be more present on this mini LP than ever before: The title track nods gently to mid 1990s Compost Records and early Air; Glide floats into early IDM territory with classic drum machines, analog basslines and thick atmospheric pads, while Saudade is Munk's ultimate perfection of the combination of hand played instruments and programmed synthesizers, and displays his singular skills for songwriting.