Blogs and reviews!

SUNDAY TIMES: Hottest Download 23.8: Manna! Dreamy doomy music from Algerian/Finnish newcomer.

BOYZ.CO.UK/RELEASE OF THE WEEK: Manna, Born in Paris to a Finnish mother and an Algerian father, Manna was never going to be anything other than fu**ing cool. Channelling Debbie Harry, ‘Some Girls/Some Boys’ has it all: tambourine shakes; a who-gives-a-toss throwaway philosophy and a popmeets- rock filth bag garage sound. She could articulate a little more, mind you. We can barely hear what you’re saying, love. ****

ROBOTPIGEON.COM:"STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND LISTEN TO A BRILLIANT SINGLE. By pop, we don't mean that 'Some Girls / Some Boys' by Manna is anything like The Saturdays or Tinchy Stryder, it's more like The Kills or Ladyhawke. She's from Finland, so we'll call her 'the Finnish Ladyhawke' and see if it sticks. Her single is a completely and utterly brilliant, life-affirming piece of amazingness which is as equally influenced by The Rolling Stones as it is Madonna. It's as rock and roll as it's pop. There are ten million different things going on between the beginning and the 3.39 close but most notable of all are a fan-bloody-tastic tune and the several hundred hooks throughout the song.

SIRENS OF SOUND AND IMAGE: Her first single is called Some Girls/Some Boys. Wanting to get up and dance is the only way to describe this song. With 80's synths carrying the melody and the vocals as the centerpiece - it is one of the best songs I have heard this year. Manna's vocals are beautifully piercing yet at the same time soft, mystifying, haunting, and addicting. It's a song that would have been a hit in either era. She also released a small snipped of another new song called Truth Song and it sounds incredible! It has a gorgeous 90's vibe and reminding of early Kate Bush and PJ Harvey. If you like Bat For Lashes, Siouxsie & the Banshees, PJ Harvey, 60's pop songs as well The Smiths or Bow Wow Wow, then you should check Manna out. I think now it's Manna's chance to shine.

MUSICK.BLOGSPOT.COM: Anyone familiar with Musick will know that we're quite big fans of all things Scandinavian. From Robyn to Lykke Li to Fever Ray to Wildbirds & Peacedrums. Well, add to that ever growing list another name- Manna . Born in Paris, but now living in Finland, Manna makes the kind of music that Scandinavians seem to create in their sleep. 'Some Girls/Some Boys' is deliciously catchy, cloaked in melody and carries that magnetic quality that Scando-pop (no? No.) must have. First listen you think it's pretty good, then it reveals itself even more second time around and by the third listen you want to track Manna down and marry her.

BRITISHHEINEKEN.IE: Manna – Some Girls, Some Boys . This has been the most played song on my show this week. I absolutely love it. It is the debut single from the Finnish singer who combines elements of rock, punk and soul with beautiful melodies.' Her myspace page has had 225607 hits, which is not too shabby. The chorus definitely reminds me of something else but I am stumped as to recall what it is. Also I don’t care, as I just love it. ELECTROQUEER.COM: Say hello to Manna. She's a Finnish/French/Algerian singer who's brilliant song "Some Boys/Some Girls" has come up so many times on my iPod randomly that it was inevitable that I would fall in love with the song. Manna's not really electro-pop at all, but I kinda like to think she's a bit of a mixture of Bat For Lashes and Ladyhawke all mixed together.

Songs of Hope and Desire

Dear readers,

I'm releasing my album "Songs of hope and desire" in Finland september 30th and later hopefully all around.

Meanwhile, please visit: www.myspace.com/mannamariam to hear music from the upcoming release!

Love and light,

-Manna-