★ ★ ★ ★ out of 5
Following the release of alternative pop debut album The Family Jewels in 2010, Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, better known under her Marina and the Diamonds moniker, continued to reinvent her sound and image with each subsequent project.
Fan favorite Electra Heart in 2012 explored the electro-dance pop craze while touching on topics of love and identity. Follow up Froot in 2015 glistened with a disco/rock sheen, becoming the artist’s first top ten album in the U.S and her most critically acclaimed effort to date.
However, after wrapping up her Neon Nature Tour, the artist announced a break from music to rest and find creative inspiration. The extended hiatus was “terrifying” for the artist, not knowing what her next life step would be. Ultimately, the break allowed for a “musical recharge”, spurring the announcement of a name change (now simply MARINA) and fourth studio album Love + Fear, a double album that touches on the highs and lows of life.
Preceded by a slew of singles, including “Handmade Heaven” and summer-ready “Orange Trees”, the album’s themes, inspired by a theory that humans are only capable of experiencing two emotions, are juxtaposed with contradicting production. The first half deals with happiness, joy and peace, supported by brooding, heavier beats. While the second half touches on anger, hate and guilt, supported by radiant, upbeat production.
Serving as her first solo single release since “Blue” in 2015, ethereal ballad “Handmade Heaven” sounded as a way for the artist to wipe the slate clean, as MARINA sings of an untouched paradise and a longing for inner peace. Carried by an operatic vocal performance, receiving comparisons to the work of Lana Del Rey from critics, the climate change-inspired number found the artist reconnecting with nature. However, its job as a lead single was quite misleading.
Follow-up singles “Superstar” and “To Be Human” perfectly highlight the juxtaposition between subject matter and backing production. As MARINA celebrates the work and commitment a lover injects into a relationship on the former, she is supported by moody, synth-driven instrumental drops. “When I'm afraid, when the world's gone dark, come and save my day, you're my superstar,” she sings on a verse. The latter speaks of unity and holds a more optimistic view of humanity, however, the delicate piano and heavy drums paint a more urgent and dire picture. The artist hopes we will stop viewing each other as different.
The artist embraces the approaching summer season with "Orange Trees", a radiant, acoustic guitar-driven ballad where she continues on her identity search. While sounding as if directed to a lover on the surface, the songwriting highlights self-love and growth while visiting a familiar place. Produced and co-written by Oscar Gorres (Adam Lambert, Hilary Duff, Troye Sivan) and Erik Hassle, the track is inspired by MARINA's Greek heritage and the island of Lefkada in Greece where her father's family originated from.
Latin-tinged house beats paired with the pop sensibility of MARINA was the winning formula for "Baby" by Clean Bandit, also featuring Luis Fonsi. The genre-blurring ode to failed romance is striking and innovative as a story of two lovers drifting apart is told over flamenco-infused production. "Guess I had my last chance, and now this is our last dance, you fell through the cracks in my hands, hard to say it's over," MARINA coos on the frenzied chorus, just before Fonsi tackles a Spanish-language bridge for a bit more cultural depth. The collaboration sounds at home on this project.
MARINA sings to relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy the world rushing by on mid-tempo efforts “Enjoy Your Life” and “True”. The former serves as an anti-perfectionist anthem, motivating an artist who had hit her rock bottom to push forward. While the latter extends on the self-love subject matter by advocating for one to remain true to their nature, instead of conforming to society standards.
The Love portion of the album closes with “End of the Earth”, an ominous ballad where MARINA sings of taking a leap and risking it all, just to feel love. Even if she faces difficulty in describing exactly what that emotion feels like. “If we're torn apart, then I won't let go, ‘cause wherever we are, it feels like home, and I'll love you 'til the end,” she belts on the bridge.
Attentive, alluring violin strings open “Life Is Strange”, touching on the state of being MARINA was at during her hiatus, realizing she’s not the only one who feels lost in the world. “We walk and talk and think alike, we all cry the same tears at night,” she sings on the intro, before poking fun at herself. The upbeat nature continues through to “You”, one of the straightforward radio-pop moments on the album. The subject matter is not as joyous though. MARINA realizes she made a bad judgment in character, that her partner loves no one as much as they love themselves. It’s a killer kiss-off, wrapped with a golden chorus.
Influenced by the rise and fall from grace for powerful men in the film and music industries, “Karma” is a stinging rebuke of that privileged behavior, but once again, cooled by breezy, carefree production. “It starts with one snowball, then you watch the dominoes fall, you carried on and on, without a doubt, doubt, doubt,” MARINA chastises on the second verse.
“Emotional Machine” was teased late last year with a live performance, joined on stage by its co-creators and backing vocalists, New Zealand duo Broods. While the verses are delivered in a stern yet tranquil manner, the artist proudly admits being void of emotion on the chorus, and disregards the feelings of a presumed scorn lover. Harsh. Perhaps that cold nature can be attributed to those who try to take advantage of her on “No More Suckers”, a venting mechanism where MARINA cuts the freeloading leeches out of her life who are just addicted to the drama.
MARINA pleads for inner city freedom on “Too Afraid”, a track that aids in one making that first step toward change. To feel alive again, the artist must conquer her fear of stepping into the unknown. “I've been trying to turn my life around, I've been to every party, every bar, nothing thrills me in this city anymore,” she sings with discontent.
The second half closes out with “Soft to Be Strong”. While MARINA sounded in the preceding number as if she resented her lover for making her stay in a place that made her unhappy, the artist admits on the closing ballad that putting another person’s needs before your own is a better way to build strength and trust in a relationship. The effort details the fear of loving finally disappearing, letting the light cut through the dark.
Love + Fear is broken in two for good reasons, they are sonically different, touching on separate stages in the artist's personal life. However, the entire project is connected by MARINA's previous inability to clear her mind of insecurity, uncertainty, and her longing desire to just be happy. The creative journey, narrated by trademark lyrical poetry and sublime vocal performances, was ultimately invigorating and successful, allowing the artist to see a light at the end of the tunnel. She emerged with a more mature understanding of what was happening around her. While some of the tracks are weighed down by cliches, all sound part of an authentic, therapeutic experience. MARINA felt lost, in the music industry and in life. It took an admission that not having her future all planned out was okay. Now, she's free to make decisions on her own, however she sees fit.
Tracks to Hear: "Orange Trees", "Enjoy Your Life", "Life Is Strange", "You" and "Karma"
0 Yorumlar