She's Got Claws - Synthetic Emotion

She's Got Claws is certainly aiming to show us just how sharp her electropop creations can truly be. Based in the UK, solo member of the project Manchine has been playing music since she was a teenager, largely influenced by electronic music genius Trent Reznor. After leaving her previous band Paparazzi Whore, Manchine went on to create She's Got Claws, which takes after a Gary Numan song of the very same name. Since her debut album in 2012, She's Got Claws has garnered comparisons to such popular acts as Daft Punk, and has left a mark on her audience. 

Riding on that momentum, She's Got Claws will be releasing her EP "Synthetic Emotion" in a little over a month from now. This is a concept album that follows her character, Manchine, being born from a lonely scientist looking for love. As the robot outlives her humanoid companion, and expresses grief in all forms, she then moves on to create her own companion, only to realize that she can create her own Utopia where both humans and humanoids can live together in peace. Definitely appeasing to cyberpunk audiences, She's Got Claws has crafted a good four track EP that fulfills the story she wants to tell. 

Her image is pretty on spot, as well. Maybe not the most intuitive look that has been seen in the near-future/android field, but her efforts are completely noted and the gaze she fives off on the front cover of the album is absolutely hypnotizing. However, looks and aesthetics are one thing, but it's really the music that sells an album. 

'I Die For You' really didn't settle me into the EP all that well. In fact, I kind of got turned off by it; I feel like the autotune wasn't utilized all that well, and that her voice overpowered the electronics way too much. To be honest, I wasn't all that impressed with the first track on the album. What I can say positive about it, however, was that it did give off the idea of a love song just as the concept of the album wanted it to be. 

However, that was quickly amended with the following track, 'Hurtbeat'. If emotional upset, anger, and, most of all, sadness is what She's Got Claws was trying to bring out, then she certainly hit the mark nicely. With more emotional and passionate lyrical delivery that matches the darker, but still futuristic music, 'Hurtbeat' put the EP on the right path. 

The third track, 'Manchine', brings back up the titular character's spirits, as this is when she begins her first robot creation and companion to live with forever. Robot love is key here, as Manchine spews out such lines as, "Our systems are compatible." Creative, yet simple words make this song a hit. Lastly, the final track, 'Utopia' slightly picks up the pace just a bit, but it's enough to realize that some major work is going on in Manchine's world. 

And, this is one of those numerous cases I've had in the past where the first song on the album just didn't do it for me, but the rest of the album succeeded. Skeptical as I was, I enjoyed my time listening to She's Got Claws EP, and I may even go back in time to listen to her debut album just to see how much her music has transformed since then. Let's see if She's Got Claws can become as acute as an industrial knife in her future work. 

To find out more about She's Got Claws, head over here to read the interview that was conducted with Manchine. 
May 28 2015