The beauty of the music industry is that, just when you feel that you’ve heard it all, and that you’re about to be buried under a welcome wave of apathy, some wide-eyed Turks slap your face, twist your nipples and wake you to its latent vibrancy. Marina and her spangly Diamonds are those Turks, and they’re here to remind you that there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet. Not that they’re original mind. Siouxsie Sioux, The Cocteau Twins and Kate Bush all play big parts in the integral make up of The Family Jewels. What Marina offers is a fresh, somewhat insane reinterpretation of these luminaries with impressive results.
Since ‘Obsessions’ was released this time last year, every subsequent release has been a mini event of its own, with only ‘Hollywood’ falling short of the preposterously high standard set so early.
On this, her début album, it is these singles that stand out. ‘I Am Not A Robot’ sets out to be a piss take of an insufficient lover, but turns into a tender, compassionate olive branch for someone who isn’t coping. ‘Mowgli’s Road’ is one joint short of schizophrenia, slightly unnerving, extremely hyperactive, and blindingly brilliant.
It is these characteristics that make her so compelling. She’s a constantly teasing, madly unpredictable songwriter. At one moment loving and open, and at another cold and callous, but with tunes that are unrelentingly a cut above. Marina And The Diamonds have reawakened my passion for music and mark my words, this will be a contender for the next Mercury Music Prize. MARK MY WORDS!!!
Release Date 22/02/2010 (679 Recordings Ltd.)
I started out writing for the Manchester Evening News as a freelance journalist back in 2008. The idea that I would be given free access to music and gigs seemed somehow miraculous to me, and I proceeded to take full advantage of the situation. When the M.E.N. decided to constrict its coverage to only the very biggest bands, Simon Poole approached me with a plan to make sure that all the very talented musicians of this world that pass through and/or live in Manchester would not go unnoticed. As the New Releases editor here at Silent Radio Towers, it remains my proud duty to cast a critical eye over the music and reviews that come my way in a manner that is both supportive and fair. Above all, I strive to write as entertainingly possible. Favourite musicians include the Pixies, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Mercury Rev, Os Mutantes, The Knife, Beach House etc etc. I'm a firm believer that all genres (except nu-metal) contain music of great quality...
