Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Mana Burn - Dynoman (Dynoman Music)

 


Title: Mana Burn

Artist: Dynoman

Label: Dynoman Music

Cat Number: DYN09

Genre: Dub/Minimal 


1: Mana Burn

2: Ocean Glider

3: Made To Move 

4: Inversions

5: Endorphin Squeeze


Dynoman conjures up images of impossibly tall Japanese robots, so I hope one of them is behind this release because it would make so much sense for a cyborg to be behind such a synthetic approach. Dub techno does sound the same, but can be full of subtlety and surprise, and I guess it’s the deftness in manipulating these elements that pays off. So, although ‘Mana Burn’ and ‘Made To Move’ are pretty much as one would expect from the genre, they are still well-constructed, melodic tunnels of oblivion.  ‘Ocean Glider’, Inversions’ and ‘Endorphin Squeeze’ utilize tried and tested elements but in a more precise, syncopated fashion; with the dubbier elements supporting the sharper edged minimal funk arrangements. I’ve just found out that “Mana burn is an obsolete game concept in which a player would experience loss of life for having excess unspent mana when a phase ended.” Something I am totally unfamiliar with, but possibly of relevance as far as the underlying concept is concerned. Whatever that might be however, this is a great release with ‘Endorphin Squeeze’ standing out that little bit more due to its compelling, propulsive moodiness.

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