3.5

Release data:

Mank – Isbjorn
CD-R, Manky Music, 2008

Mank is an ambient project by North Wales based musician Ben Powell. For “Isbjorn”, his eight release, Ben spend five weeks on a polar research ship in September and October 2007 to collect oceanographic data.
The latter would form the majority of this album, which was actually created during the journey.

The 70+ minutes of instrumental, highly cinematic music is fully computer based, nicely reflecting the bleakness of the spacious and cold environment, carrying on in a slow, overall tranquil, atmospheric, soundscape and drone-based manner.

There’s a beautiful sense of space sparkling between the notes, lending the outcome an extra edge, next to an occasional beat or percussion and some gentle Eno-esque piano.

This nicely rendered, Arctic inspired mood music is available as free download on Ben’s website. It’s especially recommended to listen and experience its magic with headphones.

Website: www.mankymusic.co.uk

You can see what reviews I have done of this artist on the Mank artist page