Multi-platinum selling pop innovator MARINA (formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds) has announced the release of her eagerly anticipated fourth studio album, LOVE+FEAR, which releases via Atlantic Records.
Review of Marina - Love + Fear by Thomas Bleach
Marina’s return to music has been a slightly confusing one. It was unsure what sonical path she would take for this journey but either way it was always going to be a theatrical one. By fronting her return with ‘Handmade Heaven’ and ‘Baby’ she left listeners a little underwhelmed with their tactless hooks and forgettable melodies. But luckily her fourth studio album ‘Love & Fear’ packs a strong punch in it’s latter tracks. The 80’s synth inspired ‘Enjoy Your Life’ is a groovy and funky pop moment which is everything you want from new Marina. It sounds like Carly Rae Jepsen and Betty Who had a British love child and that’s very much a HUGE compliment. The upbeat and catchy track encourages you to live your life and enjoy the ups and downs as they come because it’s all apart of life. Following it up with the disco tinged ‘True’ she continues the self exploration and appreciation propaganda with another strong pop moment that makes me question why she released any of the other material first. “Always said we’re gonna be true. We will never change, we will never change”. The political ‘To Be Human’ and the nostalgic ‘Emotional Machine’ sounds like a time warped flashback to ‘The Family Jewels’ with her theatrical vocals and alt-pop production which will excite any long term fans. ‘Karma’ is a commercial hit waiting to be unleashed that continues the latin vibes of ‘Baby’ but is less annoying and is more polished. She continues this tropical dance production on ‘You’ and ‘No More Suckers’ before getting a little more dreamy on the electronic ‘Too Afraid. The albums most relatable track is ‘Life Is Strange’ which just sums up all my feelings in about 3 minutes. “Don’t know what I’m doing with my life, but maybe there’s no wrong or right. Cause everybody feels the same, and all I know is life is strange”. The ‘Fear’ side of the album is significantly stronger with its memorable production and vulnerable lyrics but she manages to keep you guessing where she will go melodically which is endearing.
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