Michael Manning - Public
[Ai Records]

This is the one; it’s the LP, which is really going to confuse a whole load of people, while making the rest shout out ‘finally!’ Michael Manning’s debut long player entitled ‘Public’ is a constantly evolving and organic journey which travels straight through the heart of electronic music but which continues to keep pushing, snaking from path to path. Proving impossible to pin down into one genre of music or relate to a specific train of thought.

‘Public’ showcases Manning’s understanding and appreciation of music and technology, while highlighting a talent for versatile song writing and structure. ‘Public’ moves from electronica to ambience, while taking in hip hop, eastern musical influences and even a certain classical element too. As Manning himself has pointed out, you can’t really entitle an LP ‘Public’ and have each and every song sound the same, the variation and the fact that there is never an instant where one particular sound or influence seems to dominate are the keys to this LP.

Album opener ‘Release’ is quiet literally that, an opening signal of what lies ahead, a huge musical breath pumped toward the listener in the shape of a sub bass. Things then seem to change shape and direction instantly, with the likes of ‘The Street Television’ offering up an eastern flavour with its use of live drums and programmed rhythm. The hip hop influenced track ‘Today’ which develops from very little into one of the catchiest and well-crafted pieces of music I have heard in a long time, highlights how far Manning has travelled since his first release on Ai.

Through the intuitive use of live drumming and vocals, and an ability to morph from one genre to the next ‘Public’ proves to be a truly beautiful LP. The influences range from past musical experiences, literature, TV and film and they all come together to present a melting pot of styles and directions. Proving that this release is actually in many ways more like a motion picture.