Marina's 2010 debut 'The Family Jewels' painted her as an offbeat, colourful pop star, loaded with quirks and wry observations. Follow up 'Electra Heart' was a more commercial affair, riding the EDM-pop wave that was dominating the charts. For her third release 'Froot', Marina has combined the best parts of both releases to construct her most intriguing LP to date.
Much of 'Froot' paints Marina as a more confident, assured character - 'Happy' belies its bleak, pared down melody with positive messages of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, whilst 'Can't Pin Me Down' is a feminist anthem that sizzles with conviction and attitude.
Thankfully there are still a few old snapshots of the quirkiness that embedded much of Marina's older material. The title track is particularly engaging; littering odd lyrical flourishes ("I'm pinker than shepherd's delight") over a gliding electronic groove. Meanwhile, closer 'Immortal' is equal parts elegant and chilling, lamenting the brevity of human life.
It's difficult to ever see Marina hitting the commercial heights of, say, Ellie Goulding, but she is perfect as an antidote to the beige singer-songwriters that perforate today's charts. 'Froot' is her most artistic, consistent and colourful collection yet, unravelling further joy and beauty with each listen.
Review by Pete H
