British Design | Performance Loudspeakers | Experts Since 1972
"With current circumstances, I like many others have found myself with the opportunity to listen to more music at home. As well as having a great chance to explore and discover new music, I’ve also revisited a few of my favourite artists and albums – one example which has featured on heavy rotation this week being Marina and her 4th album ‘Love + Fear’.
Formerly ‘Marina and the Diamonds’, she has successfully navigated her way in the music industry, choosing to steer clear from the mainstream for the sake of exposure, and instead choosing to deliver albums relating to personal interests at the time or an over-arching theme she has envisaged. ‘Love + Fear’ is a great example of this whereby Marina has created a coherent album split between the two emotions. (Indeed, the vinyl release comes with the ‘Love’ tracks on a white records, and ‘Fear’ on a contrasting black alternative).
As an artist with a #1 UK album under her belt, Marina knows how to deliver excellent song writing and memorable melodic ballads and this album is no exception. Upbeat approaches in ‘Enjoy Your Life’ contrast well against tracks such as ‘To Be Human’ which demonstrates some deep and thoughtful lyrics apt in recent times, switching it up alongside Clean Bandit’s made-for-radio song ‘Baby’ featuring Marina as the key vocalist – confirming her as a flexible and talented musician.
One of my personal favourites on the album is the track ‘Karma’ which features many of Marina’s common traits as a performer. Indeed, in her early career Marina was likened to well-known artists such as Kate Bush and Annie Lennox, mainly due to her ability to transition easily between parts of her Mezzo Soprano vocal range effortlessly, as well as her personal and unique approach to her music video style, both of which are reflected in the acoustic version of the ‘Karma’ video which can be found on YouTube here."
About the artist
Hitting the charts in 2010 with her debut album 'The Family Jewels', Welsh singer/songwriter Marina (formally Marina & the Diamonds) has incorporated electropop, synth and indie into her four studio albums.
About the album
After a short hiatus following her third album 'Froot' and a name change, dropping her 'and the Diamonds' moniker, Marina released 'Love + Fear' in 2019. The album explores the theory that humans are only capable of experiencing the nominal two emotions. Notable songs include 'Handmade Heaven', 'Orange Trees' and 'Baby', a collaboration with British electronic band Clean Bandit.
How to Listen
Spotify | Tidal | Apple Music
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