Unradiant – Manuport Album Review (AOTM October)

“Manuports are natural objects intentionally relocated by humans, including unaltered stones, seashells, and fossils. Some manuports may represent early forms of art, chosen for their aesthetic appeal.”

‘Unradiant’ is a Finnish solo artist, also known for multiple different other acts such as ‘Alas’, ‘Mantaray’, and previously ‘New Waters’. ‘Manuport’ is already the seventh album by ‘Unradiant’ and it must be one of the best in the discography. ‘Unradiant’s music has been always more or less ambient, especially the previous album ‘Loputon’. With ‘Manuport’ he has brought the beats back. Compared to his whole discography ‘Manuport’ balances somewhere between the ambient soundscape of ‘Loputon’ and the IDM beats of the rest of the albums.

The whole soundscape of ‘Manuport’ is pretty special with all the little details behind every beat and synth sound. The album starts with the hypnotizing ‘Kerrat’ which ends with a big wall of sound leading the way to the title track. ‘Manuport’ and ‘Manuport 2’ remind us distantly of ‘Jon Hopkin’s way of combining beautiful ambient worlds with melancholic beats which keep building momentum. Then again ‘Harju’ and especially ‘Harju 2’ remind slightly of ‘Burial’ with the repeating ongoing beat which is not the most straightforward but still catchy and makes the listeners find themselves trying to bounce their head to the weird beat. ‘Ratas’ is has probably one of the fastest bpm from ‘Unradiant’s whole discography. The beat would definitely make the underground electro clubs sweat.

The soundscapes of ‘Manuport’ balance nicely between pretty massive walls of sounds and more minimalistic parts. The album has also a nice organic feeling here and there while everything still sounds pretty much run-through machines. This creates a really interesting soundscape that captivates the listener’s attention pretty well. Mostly you will find yourself surrounded with beautiful feelings and sounds but from time to time there are also moments where you will be hypnotized with the mysterious and captivating beats.

‘Unradiant’ is a Finnish solo artist, but you might have heard of him through his involvement in other acts like ‘Alas,’ ‘Mantaray,’ and the former ‘New Waters.’ ‘Manuport’ marks ‘Unradiant’s’ seventh album, and it’s safe to say it’s one of the standout releases in his discography. ‘Unradiant’ has a history of crafting ambient tunes, especially on the previous album, ‘Loputon.’ However, ‘Manuport’ brings back the beats, finding a sweet spot between the ambient soundscape of ‘Loputon’ and the IDM beats found in the other albums.

The entire vibe of ‘Manuport’ is pretty special, filled with tiny details behind every beat and synth sounds. The album kicks off with the mesmerizing ‘Kerrat,’ which transitions into a colossal wall of sound leading to the title track, ‘Manuport.’ ‘Manuport’ and ‘Manuport 2’ evoke echoes of ‘Jon Hopkins’, fusing beautiful ambient atmospheres with melancholic beats that keep building momentum. On the other hand, ‘Harju’ and particularly ‘Harju 2’ have a slight ‘Burial’ vibe with their repeating, unconventional beats that, still manage to catch your attention and get your head nodding to the unique rhythms. ‘Ratas’ stands out with one of the fastest BPMs in ‘Unradiant’s’ discography, a beat that could undoubtedly get underground electro clubs pumping.

The soundscapes of ‘Manuport’ strike a nice balance between massive walls of sound and more minimalistic moments. The album has an organic touch here and there, even though the overall sound still leans toward the sounds pushed through electronic worlds. This blend creates a genuinely captivating soundscape that grabs the listener’s attention. You’ll mostly find yourself in beautiful emotions and sounds, but every now and then, the mysterious and captivating beats will leave you in a trance-like state.

Unradiant – Manuport

Release Date: October 6, 2023

Album of the Month by Cuberat