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MARSHA SWANSON - SENTIENT STARDUST

" Marsha Swanson delivering catchy melodies in that folk tinged voice, echoes of Joni Mitchell and Beth Orton shining through."

review by Mike Bond
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MOSTLY MUSIC / PROPER TRACKLISTING Sentient Stardust Impasse Sparkles Alice The Palace My Life My Own In Time How Are You? The Fall Of Madam M The Secret Of Mazey Touching The Void Author Of Your Life Still Wrong
Straddling the worlds of traditional folk and a more interesting and experimental direction, Marsha Swanson continues to be a singer/songwriter who comes dangerously close to achieving something special. New album, SENTIENT STARDUST finds her making significant steps towards achieving that something special, a collection of songs writhing with ambition, though at times still mired by the stiflingly predictable and dull. Opener and title track SENTIENT STARDUST sees Marsha delivering a song that belongs in some middle ground between the dull and the special, starting out as a pretty acoustic folk tune before descending into a dull chorus and layering in some weird space rock guitar effects and militaristic drumming towards its climax - great in places, dull and predictable in others. SPARKLES is an undeniable pretty tune, melancholic piano chords underpinning Marsha's searching vocals; the simplicity and honesty in every moment here working to her favour and drawing you into her world. The orchestral other worldliness of ALICE THE PALACE is the records most intriguing and unexpected moment, Marsha Swanson giving in to her more avant garde urges and delivering a song that touches on mediaeval folk and offbeat English pop; a sound that sits somewhere bizarrely between The Kinks, Joanna Newsom and Bjork. With MY LIFE MY OWN Marsha continues to impress with a song that pushes her sound into further fresher directions. With a driving Motown bass riff and funky beats, this is radio friendly pop that bears the odd similarity to recent Amy Winehouse material; Marsha Swanson delivering catchy melodies in that folk tinged voice, echoes of Joni Mitchell and Beth Orton shining through. The torch song melodramaticism of IN TIME is another highlight whilst with THE FALL OF MADAM M, Marsha delivers pretty acoustic folk that wouldn't sit out of place on the latest OC soundtrack album. Elsewhere here, THE SECRET OF MAZEY is another slice of pretty acoustic folk, TOUCHING THE VOID, a haunting ballad underpinned by strange ambient sound clashes and AUTHOR OF YOUR LIFE, a rousing piano led song that wears its Elton John and Bernie Taupin influences firmly on its sleeve. With SENTIENT STARDUST, Marsha Swanson makes sizeable steps towards delivering the record to mark her out as a truly distinctive and original singer/songwriter. Whilst still not quite hitting those heights just yet, SENTIENT STARDUST comes dangerously close, with only the odd lapse into the dull and predictable dulling its undeniable highpoints.
BIOGRAPHY
Marsha Swanson is a singer/songwriter from London. With distinctively English vocals, and direct delivery, her music reflects inspiration from classic singer songwriters such as Carole King and John Martyn, through to the modern atmospheric soundscapes of Fiona Apple and Beth Orton. Marsha secured national distribution for debut album "Watershed" in 2006 with Proper Music Distribution which is available in all good shops now. She also became involved in a side-line writing project with Steve Sidelnyk (programmer/drummer to Madonna) and Richard Robson (programmer/remixer to Richard Ashcroft/The Magic Numbers). In 2007, Marsha released two new singles, ‘My Life My Own’ and "Sentient Stardust". Both received widespread critical acclaim. The singles show Marsha’s natural progression from the emotion of her debut album to the hauntingly sophisticated and acclaimed sound that her album later in 2007 will be brimming with. The album has had production from ex Jocasta front man Tim Arnold and Alex Mcgowan co/writer & producer for Martina Topley Bird's album Quixotic, which was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2003. Still Wrong is the 3rd release this year and follows a stunning response from regional BBC radio to her last two singles. With an autumn BBC radio tour ahead, a nomination for Best Female Artist at this years Access All Area’s New Music Awards, 2007, and influential music critics joining the list of fans, it looks like 2007 promises to be a breakthrough year.
LINKS
Marsha Swanson>http://www.marshaswanson.co.uk/

Review date: October 2007