“The Machine” is an elegant gem from Mano’s Daughter, incorporating a hybrid of late-night electronica and infectious pop for a memorably atmospheric success. The track is a great introduction to the London-based duo, consisting of Sarah Carter and Matthias Garrick. Since forming several years ago, Mano’s Daughter have continued perfecting their knack for darkly rich soundscapes, emphasized better than ever on “The Machine”. The track’s beginnings are ethereal; a lush synth pad envelops an angelic voice soaked in reverb. An assortment of bustling synths develop subtly in the background, though the inner synth workings wait until just after the one-minute mark to truly appear. At this point, Carter’s vocals emerge from the shrouded reverb, sleekly interweaving between a punchy pop-filled chorus and elegantly sophisticated series of verses.
At times, Mano’s Daughter resembles the dark electronic work of Portishead and Massive Attack, artists that inject bursts of infectious pop into an extremely sturdy and atmospheric electronic backbone. Mano’s Daughter has a greater grasp on pop music hooks than most, so their additional incorporation of atmospheric talents makes their sound consistently striking. Be sure to keep an eye on them by checking out their web site, Facebook, and Twitter.
