Up in Flames

Released in 2003 under the moniker Manitoba, Up in Flames represents a pivotal shift for Dan Snaith, moving away from the more conventional IDM of his debut toward a 'folktronica' sound defined by psychedelic pop influences. The album is characterized by its heavy use of live instrumentation - particularly double-tracked, overdriven drums - and a dense layering of acoustic textures like flutes and glockenspiels. This recording captured a specific moment in the early 2000s where the boundaries between indie rock and electronic music began to dissolve. Critics at the time, including those at Pitchfork and AllMusic, praised the album for its emotional warmth and its successful marriage of 60s sunshine-pop sensibilities with modern electronic processing. It remains one of the most celebrated 'pastoral' electronic albums, eventually reissued under the Caribou name after a legal dispute over the Manitoba trademark.