Posted November 13, 200816 yr Marina and the Diamonds We've Got Obsessions We've Got Obsessions // Mowgli Road - 7" Neon Gold Records http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2008/09/23/Marina276.jpg Marina and the Diamonds Biography // The Guardian Female performer with quaint Christian name and inanimate-object appendage alert! Marina and the Diamonds are the latest "and the" band, if indeed they are a band. Some of her/their songs are full-band performances even though on her MySpace, under "band members", it simply says "me". So we're not sure who or what Marina's Diamonds are, but then it took us quite a while to work out what Florence's Machine was, let alone Joe Lean's Jing Jang Jong. The Welsh-born musician insists that her birthplace was "Ancient Greece" and that her heroes are Brody Dalle and Britney. Her songs are hard to fathom. They veer between simple keyboards-based ballads and more upbeat and catchy, quirky new wave-inflected numbers enhanced by bass, guitar and drums. In the latter instances, we're assuming the sprightly nature of the music is an ironic cover for lyrics critical of modern mores in general and the male of the species in particular. "You're only as sick as your secrets," she says at the top of her MySpace, by way of a clue. Further evidence that we're dealing with a seriously warped mind in the body of a fox are her highly entertaining and angry, if grammatically unorthodox, musings on her website, which range from verbal annihilations of female pop stars to the vapidity of contemporary celeb culture. You get the impression that, in Marina's twisted imagination, women are weight-obsessed WAGs and men are all creepy sleazebags. "I'm really sick, tired, depressed, uninspired by women," she writes. "Vacant. Airbrushed. Empty. People. Getting. Paid. To talk. About f*** all. It's great that Eva Longoria looks hot in a bikini, but if the sun dies and the world plummets into darkness and ice, will anyone f***ing care?" Lily Allen? She's not having it. "She was quite good until she wrecked it all by turning into everything she's not. i.e. going on a diet, dying her hair slapper-blonde and flashing her boobies." As for trying to compare her to Kate Nash, don't even go there. "Because OOPS! I have a vagina and a keyboard!!!! WE SO SIMILAR!" Any fellas out there who haven't run and hid yet, a word of advice: don't nudge her during her gigs or you'll get it in the neck, too, as one poor punter found out to his cost recently. "Hi to the ecstasy ridden guy who tried to tip my keyboard on the last song. I threw a girl punch, and as girl punches go, totally missed and clipped his jaw. May music never grace your grotty ears again. Loser. And say hi to your drug dealer for me. He made you look super f***ing hot that night. Hehehe x." Ouch. She doesn't sing like a harpy, more like one of those kooky new wave girls like Lene Lovich, all whoops, hollers, cackles and shrieks that make her sound strangely mid-European. It provides a neat counterpoint to the music. Seventeen opens with just piano, almost like an Elvis Costello circa-Armed Forces pop ditty, then starts to resemble one of those novelty synth-pop groups from the late 70s like Flying Lizards. The Shampain Sleeper, about using alcohol as an anaesthetic for a painful existence, sounds like fag-end-of-glam hit Glass of Champagne by Sailor and not just because they have a similar title – it's got that weird mid-70s synth-glam stomp. Girls Girls Girls, a collaboration with New Order and Ladyhawke producer Pascal Gabriel, is a brilliant full-band performance and a potentially huge smash hit in which Marina bitches about women who have Botox and go on diets and recommends that we stuff yoghurts and stick to apple pies. And you can dance to it. We've Got Obsessions explains those Kate Nash comparisons, all mournful piano, voice to the fore and references to the miserable minutiae of everyday life, crackers and all. An intriguing young lady and no mistake. http://puregroove.co.uk/AssetImages/size5/7aadc055-2d31-4e0b-a6a9-d74d08867309.jpg Marina is releasing her debut single mid-December through "trendy" indie label 'Neon Gold Records' before her major label folk take over in the new year (similar trend to what Little Boots, La Roux, Passion Pit etc have done). She'll be on all of the buzz lists come the end of the year. Expect big things in the new year...
November 13, 200816 yr She has a voice I recognise (which isn't either of the Kate's...) but I can't think who it is. The demo version is nice, the full one should be good.
December 10, 200816 yr Author http://puregroove.co.uk/AssetImages/size5/7aadc055-2d31-4e0b-a6a9-d74d08867309.jpg The new version of 'Obsessions' (Nü shorter single title) sounds very good.
December 12, 200816 yr Author The single versions of 'Obsessions' and 'Mowgli's Road' have leaked. Epic isn't the word?
December 12, 200816 yr I like the new version of Obsessions a lot. ^_^ Not as keen on Mowgli's Road yet. :(
December 12, 200816 yr I like the new version of Obsessions a lot. ^_^ Not as keen on Mowgli's Road yet. :( How is that possible? MOWGLI'S ROAD IS SO AMAZING.
December 12, 200816 yr How is that possible? MOWGLI'S ROAD IS SO AMAZING. I dunno, I still like it, just not as much. At first I thought it was very average and now it's just 'good' so it's grown on me already.
December 13, 200816 yr I don't like the new version of 'Obsessions' as much as I wanted to, the demo version just sounds better for me. 'Mowgli's Road' is amazing though.
December 13, 200816 yr Author I don't like the new version of 'Obsessions' as much as I wanted to, the demo version just sounds better for me. 'Mowgli's Road' is amazing though. You know, I knew you were going to say exactly that before I came into this thread :o I find the new version vastly superior. Her vocals are FAR more emotive and earnest. The reverb they've used on it adds a whole new level of ambiance too. Beautiful.
December 14, 200816 yr You know, I knew you were going to say exactly that before I came into this thread :o I find the new version vastly superior. Her vocals are FAR more emotive and earnest. The reverb they've used on it adds a whole new level of ambiance too. Beautiful. Psychic eh. :o It's grown on me after a few more listens but it's still got a way to go to beat the demo version. I don't like the backing as much on the new version, and for me her vocals haven't improved at all...
December 15, 200816 yr Where can I download some of her songs? Hype machine is surprisingly devoid of any of her songs. I'm really liking Obsessions now, the video is great too.
December 16, 200816 yr Author I have like 4 other demos by her? There isn't much about... Remixes of this track will come courtesy of Giantess and Little Boots as well as many more. Exciting.
December 16, 200816 yr Ooof, Boots remix ;o Much awaited. Also interesting to see how the Giantess remix will turn out...
January 6, 200916 yr Does someone know what she actually means by "crackers" in 'Obsessions'? Listening again I keep thinking it's used for something else...
January 6, 200916 yr Does someone know what she actually means by "crackers" in 'Obsessions'? Listening again I keep thinking it's used for something else... Condoms :drama: They're all the same, one brand, one name = Durex. Why else would anyone be getting looks for looking at crackers eh Jonny? ;o
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