First off one must mention the packaging for this release, as the grey art paper sleeve & cdr comes wrapped in a flat, rusted and meshed steel slip case which gives the whole project a very weighty and unmissble look. Sonically the album offers up  eight tracks which last between just over the three minute mark to near on seven minutes  mark a piece. The tracks here drift from: chant layered Power electronics and aggravated electronica beat-scapes. To dense, layered and noisey field recording attacks, through to chopping and grating seared electroinca meets slight harsh noise work-outs, and at times there’s a mix of all three styles of track.

Clearly a lot of work has been put into the building and texturing all the tracks on offer here, but sadly I come away from the release feeling rather underwhelmed and a little let down; you see to my ears it all feels a little too safe and muddled in it’s sonic feel and execution. Firstly the Power electronic elements sound too playful and theatrical with little or no angry/fear behind them. Secondly the often dense mats of field recordings are rather unfocused and un-appealing, plus they often playing up to industrial clichés. And lastly while at times the  seared electroncia/ harsh noise elements do have their moments of interest and creativity; on the whole their rather lacklustre and a little bland.

So all in all “Manipulations” offers up a dense and detailed mixture of electronics, noise and field recordings. It’s just a pity it mostly feels unfocused, underwhelming and more than a little tame, as clearly both parties have real sonic talent- it just some how doesn’t jell here.