Manchester producer Matthew Barnes submerged himself in hypnagogig –one of the subgenre tags of the year- waters for his accomplished first mini album, formed by six evocative vignettes closer at times to the desolate sonic passages of Mogwai than to any of his electronica peers. Another of the many excellent records released by the Olde English Spelling Bee stable, ‘Dagger Paths’ requires some dedication before it begins to unveil his secrets, but once you’ve scratched the surface an increasingly rewarding venture awaits.