Album Review: Marissa Nadler Self-titled

After having a listen to Marissa Nadler’s new album, one can only wonder why Miss Nadler was removed from the Mexican Summer roster with such a great production to her name. All four previous albums have been marvelled by critics and it’s no surprise; this lady has something special. As her fifth album, Marissa’s lyrical content and creative direction is well above others.

There is a pleasant ghostly etherealness about Marissa’s voice that almost places her songs within another era. Despite this, Marissa’s music tends to hold no generational boundaries, as the classically, beautiful tone of her voice could echo for many years to come. She personally refers to the album as “the most honest, natural record I’ve ever written”. The songs on the album are both versatile and pleasing and I can only wish for more artists to take the natural route.

What a lovely record to have popped through the Notion Office letterbox! Any song could literally be picked and dropped into the soundtrack of any old-school pulp movie. Oh, how I would have loved to hear Baby I Will Leave You In The Morning, playing as the final credits rolled in Adam Rodriguez’s ‘Machete’! That clean plucking of guitar strings and those sweet melodies on, conjures up the image of a family BBQ being held on the farm of The Waltons. Little King begins with guitars which mimick good ol’ Simon and Garfunkel, but then bleeds into a folk song so pretty, it may end up getting stick on repeat after your first listen.

Be sure to have a peep at the video for Baby I will leave you in the Morning, directed by Guy Benoit, who does a fantastic job translating Marissa’s energy into the visual document you can view below.

Marissa releases her self-titled album on June 13, on her own record label, Box of Cedar Records.

- Joanna Prempeh

Marissa Nadler – “Baby, I Will Leave You In The Morning” from Alec K. Redfearn on Vimeo.