Desire Machines take a playful approach to storytelling on “Searching for the Soul of Marianne Moore”, a new single that starts with an encounter in a bar in the Outer Rim and ends up somewhere much more far-fetched. Along the way, the lyrics visit Andy Warhol’s New York in 1974 before taking a final turn towards a giant eagle with laser vision. The song gets progressively wilder as it goes, and that sense of escalation is a big part of its appeal.
What makes the writing work is the way each new scene raises the stakes. The references arrive quickly, but the song has enough momentum to carry them along, building towards a finale that feels like a natural extension of the track’s freewheeling imagination. There’s a welcome sense of humor here, too, which keeps the whole adventure entertaining.
Kianna Blue handles lead vocals over a motorik rhythm, with guitars and electronic effects adding movement throughout. The arrangement gives the verses room to develop, while the repeated title line provides a familiar point to return to. It’s a lively performance that complements the song’s increasingly far-out storyline.
“Searching for the Soul of Marianne Moore” shows Desire Machines having fun with the possibilities of songwriting, taking a promising idea and seeing just how far it can go.
The single is out now through Super8Singles Club on vinyl, alongside a second song titled “Astronauts”, released digitally on November 2.