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Chronogram
9/05
LINK
Sharon Nichols : Ear Whacks
...So
Unreal, a song that has been reworked in four ways so
distinct that it hardly seems a single at all. The
production is tight enough to bounce a quarter on,
weaving through dark-wave techno and retro-Euro Pet
Shop Boys vibes with sexy synth-loving Manley vocals
that would make Prince and Alison Moyet hold hands and
do a back flip. [more]
DaKine
9/05
LINK
Kai Andersen
Manley says his style is “Retro 80s,” but the term doesn’t do him justice. There’s an undeniable 80s influence—the Pet Shop Boys come to the mind of this reviewer. But the feel of Manley’s music is entirely contemporary. The remixes head in divergent
directions, meaning that the single never falls into monotony. The Brooklyn based team of Super Buddha, which has also taken on the likes of Deborah Harry
and Wainwright, translates the tune into the most radio-friendly format, laying down a pulsing beat, over which Manley flies. The Imaginary Mix takes on a deliciously darker, electronic tone, while the closing DJ Dark Jedi mix is a true club anthem. The bonus track, "Trannie Hooker," is the single's true jewel, for it manages to take on, of all topics, "a chick with a dick," which it combines with some rocking, electro-country grooves, resulting in a transcendental musical experience this side of Johnny Cash and Beck.
Windy
City Times
8/10/05
LINK
Pop Making Sense by David Byrne with Tony Peregrin
Openly gay singer-songwriter David Manley makes a return with his single “So Unreal,” which is available through his Web site davidmanley.com. As a predecessor to his sophomore album, which is still a work in progress, “So Unreal” resonates as an honest queer love song. With remixes and a resemblance to Marc Almond’s Fantastic Star album, this song proves to be the perfect summer anthem. Even Madison Avenue should take note, the remix by Super Buddha ( Scissor Sisters, Rufus Wainwright, Debbie Harry ) would be right up the alley for a trendy car commercial.
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