Ingerslev; Marie: The Other Side

The Other Side is the second album from Copenhagen's Marie Ingerslev, although her 2006 debut In The Head Of A Dreamer was released under the band name Mary. Marie herself states that her influences are as wide and varied as the folk music of The Bulgarian women choir, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, John Lennon and Joni Mitchell. I personally would agree with most of that list as The Other Side is a gentle journey through folk rock/pop, with some wonderful vocal arrangements and the odd smattering of jazz. It may be, where female singers are concerned, a cliché to mention Kate Bush, however Marie certainly has some elements of Bush at her most restrained, and on the same terms it would also be relevant to mention Alisha's Attic and Bjork, but only in the sense that some of the vocal melodies and structures nod to these artists, but without the outlandish quirky kookiness of any of those three.

The songs themselves are all instantly catchy and hummable, but not in a throwaway sense and whilst it is definitely possible to imagine Ingerslev having the appeal to make an impact on the singles chart, the eleven songs on this album are strong in substance and heartfelt in lyric. Ingerslev touches on her beliefs towards life and death across the lyrics of the songs however she does so in a way that never becomes over bearing, or maudlin and her voice is strong enough to carry the themes, but subtle enough to continually draw you in.

The mix of folk and pop combines to make some subtle, yet interesting songs, with "Daily Life" and "The Other Side" being the best of examples of where Marie gets to stretch herself vocally, even though the songs remain gentle and floating. It would however be welcome if the pace of the album was a little more varied and while the instrumentation is of a universally high standard, that isn't quite enough to stop the songs from sometimes creaking under the weight of their dark tones. That however is a minor quibble, with the likes of "This Glow" and "Walk Along" having enough pop sensibilities to make them appealing to casual listeners, but enough depth for those who like to pore over their music.

Marie Ingerslev certainly possesses a wonderful and evocative voice and on the whole The Other Side is an excellent setting for her to express those abilities.

Track Listing
1. Goodbye Old World
2. Lock
3. I Search A Place
4. Daily Life
5. This Glow
6. Walk Along
7. Save My Sound
8. My Word Still Stands
9. Ice
10. The Other Side
11. Waltzing Dorthe

Added: September 28th 2010
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Marie Ingerslev MySpace
Hits: 2060
Language: english

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