Meet MANA. She’s a South African-Peruvian artist who made her debut last week with orb – a stunning seven-track amalgamation of neo-soul and spiritual jazz.
Each track is taken from a live recording, preserving the intimacy and texture of MANA’s enthralling live skill. With ethereal electric piano, a haunting double bass, intricate drums and a sweet guitar, orb is further anchored by MANA’s mesmerising, husky vocals.
All together, these various elements make for a record that is brilliantly singular in style, and an enchanting introduction to the Peruvian artist’s sound.
With Khaya Mthembu-Salter on guitar, Vuyo Nkasawe on keys, Matthew Keswell on drums and Luke Verrezen on bass, MANA and her band construct immersive, transcendental concerts, and the quality of this energy is brilliantly captured on orb.
Opener “Dots Passing” recalls Brian Eno circa Music For Airports, tinged by melancholy keyboard synthesisers.
It’s followed by “Every Seven” which is perhaps more acutely influenced by the likes of Nils Frahm and Hania Rani, although rejuvenated by additions of neo-soul jazz and blues. Think Hiatus Kaiyote meets Hiroshi Yoshimura.
The EP continues in this vein, lilting between introspective bliss and instrumental complexity, and the result is deeply moving.
