Hello Reader,
Welcome back.
Today we’re going to delve into Marina Allen. A name I’ve heard a lot of buzz about, but I wasn’t familiar with her albums before beginning the review process.
The LA-based singer-songwriter was born in New Jersey and moved with her family to California when she was ten. Allen grew up singing in her community churches and her school choirs, serving as the foundation of her music education. Allen then studied experimental and avant-garde music at art school.
Her debut album, Candlepower (2021) established her in the scene and was met with positive reviews with many taking note of her incredible voice, confidence, and songwriting chops. The following year, Allen released Centrifics (2022) which was met with similarly positive reviews.
Reflecting on her work so far Allen said, “As much as you can have will and ambition, those things often get in the way of a fluidity to life, and where you’re supposed to be. You can make yourself dizzy wanting to be somewhere you’re not. My first album, Candlepower, had this sparkly energy around it – I think of it very fondly. With Eight Pointed Star, I’m trying to harness that beginner’s mind again, while having the scars and wisdom that come from biting into the fruits of knowledge.”
And on Friday June 7th, Allen’s third album overall and third with the fabulous Fire Records, titled Eight Pointed Star is out for your listening pleasure.
Allen speaking on her songwriting process for this album, “There was a sense when I was writing Eight Pointed Star of searching…Searching is the other side of the quarter when it comes to trust. The way that I write music is fundamentally a trust exercise – allowing your mind to be quiet, seeing what arises and following the flickers. Sitting with that feeling and making it work. I think of songwriting in general as a collage – scrapping together these ideas to create a new whole. But it’s also for looking into the future with this thing that’s supposed to give you… I don’t know, hope.”
Giving credit where it’s due. Eight Pointed Star album credits:
- Marina Allen – sang all lead vocals, wrote the songs and co-produced the album.
- Andrew Dorsett – played piano and synthesizer.
- Ben Lumsdaine – played drums and percussion.
- Davin Givhan – played bass guitar.
- Tim Ramsey – played guitar and pedal steel.
- Odessa Jorgensen – played violin.
- Chris Cohen – sang backing vocals on “Red Cloud,” and played additional piano on “Love Comes Back”, synthesizer on “Between Seasons”, “Deep Fake” and “Easy”, produced and mixed the album.
- Meg Duffy – played guitar synthesizer on “Deep Fake.”
- Kacey Johansing – sang background vocals on “I’m the Same.”
- Phil Hartunian – played additional guitar on “Deep Fake” and “Easy” and engineered the album.
- Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Recording
- Recorded at Tropico Beauty in Glendale, CA
- cover photo and artwork by Jasper McMahon, additional layout by Alex Hornsby
Allen shares some final thoughts with us before we become listeners of her newest album, “Abstraction in lyricism is in crisis, that inspired me and what I find to be the most powerful in art. But it’s a balance of clearly saying the things I want to say, while also listening to what is being said on the fringes of my subconscious. Those thoughts can be elusive and mischievous, but they often hold a truth that literalism can’t make out. I’m asking you to listen with me.”
And now some hype for your ears!
The stunning melody and lyrics complete with a familiar face repeated within the video for “Deep Fake”:
(All credits and rights to Marina Allen and Fire Records)
The reverence for her family’s Nebraska roots, complete with spectacular Plains imagery in the video for “Red Cloud”:
(All credits and rights to Marina Allen)
A lively NYC backdrop that alternates between black & white and full color in the video for “Swinging Doors” amidst lyrics that ponder what lies next, in the next chapter:
(All credits and rights to Marina Allen and Fire Records)
Overall, Eight Pointed Star is another triumph from Marina Allen. She further establishes her songwriting talent to more listeners. Allen examines and explores new areas, new themes, new settings and new idioms. Allen reiterates that she has one of the most powerful voices in music today! A voice that you’d listen to sing about anything under the sun and be in awe. In this album, Allen shows off her vocal and lyrical range with varied compositions and melodies. There is a good flow from song to song, you’re excited with each song knowing that there’s many talented musicians to listen to. On this album Allen is surrounded by a talented cast of musicians that inject even more life into the music. It sounds great and it’s mixed well.
“I’m the Same” kicks off the album in striking fashion with a steady drum beat pattern soon followed by synth to fill the melody. Shortly after that, both guitars join in, followed by piano. Allen’s vocals stand out regardless of musical instrumentation. It’s a well-orchestrated composition that ends with an especially funky bass groove in all the right ways from Givhan. The lyrics are reflective and inquisitive, examining both the past of a close relationship with the perspective of the present with some frustration that they are at different points.
Allen said that “‘Deep Fake'” felt like a little revelation. It spun from this writing workshop I took, led by Chris Weisman. I took guitar lessons from him when I was 20. He has all these tools for songwriting, and ‘Deep Fake’ came out of a prompt. I can’t even remember what the prompt was. It’s sort of two different songs that I just put together. I wanted the first part to feel really personal, like talking to someone you love. It’s also about naming all of these very complicated things that make up our culture. Recognizing them as a reality. But to confront them and see it as sacred.” The listener is treated to some beautiful guitar notes to open “Deep Fake” before Allen’s talented vocals and her range are on display throughout the song, but most earworm worthy during the refrains. There’s some well-placed and well played percussion by Lumsdaine as well. The lyrics do read like a conversation between two people about love, sharing advice before the lyrics become more surreal fitting into the song title.
On “Red Cloud”, Allen said, “The imagery surrounding Nebraska has always been really vivid for me. My mom would tell me about how my Grandma would ride a pony to school named Daisy. I guess it brought an awareness of how much the world has changed in such a short time, but it also really tripped me out as a kid. “We’d be watching the Wizard of Oz and I felt like Dorothy was my heritage. So much of your family narrative defines who you are, and so much of it isn’t true, or you hear it wrong, or you only pick up this one part, passed down by somebody else who only picked up one part. I wanted to play with that. I had all of these images swirling around me, with me at the center, and none of the sources were reliable.” The song “Red Cloud” is a lovely homage to Allen’s heritage in Nebraska with reverence. The lyrics transport you to the Plains and even more specifically, living in Nebraska in the past. It’s another song in which Allen’s vocals are showcased with varying vocal deliveries and ranges are used perfectly. The melody ebbs and flows with Allen’s varied vocal approach, carried by a soft drumbeat, a groovy bass guitar, with lovely violin flourishes and a solo.
Allen said that ‘Swinging Doors’ “celebrates entering a new chapter in your life and the excitement when the new chapter feels right – like the butterflies you get in the line at Six Flags or in the car on a first date. It’s an ode to risk equally as it’s an ode to trust. ‘Swinging Doors’ is a trust fall. But instead of self-reflection, it’s more about experientially discovering what that means.” The song “Swinging Doors” has the most lively, pop melody of any on the album so far. If you’re listening and not bobbing your head to the beat, and singing along to the choruses, you’re doing something wrong. The melody of drums, guitars, along with layered vocals at times is a catchy, good time. The lyrics are written with a confident voice, determined to progress forward complete with wit and idioms.
The lyrics in “Bad Eye Opal” tell us of the titular character that’s almost mythological in nature based on the story we’re told. Yet the character is grounded in reality, giving human qualities and a believable setting. This song serves as another homage to heritage. The synth from Dorsett and the drums from Lumsdaine, and the bass guitar from Givhan stand out within the melody. Allen’s vocal delivery choices and the verbiage she uses in her refrains stick with you.
The next song, “Easy” features a welcoming synth and guitar melody with a touch of percussion. Allen vocals are at times, whimsically delivered. The lyrics recount pleasant memories of a romantic relationship.
“Love Comes Back” starts fast out of the gate with hard charging guitar-based melody. Add in some drums, a piano or two and delightful backing vocals. And of course, Allen’s gorgeous lead vocals. The lyrics may seem easygoing and straightforward upon first listen to some, but they are anything but. This song is another example of Allen’s well-crafted songwriting balancing several emotions including but not limited to, both disheartened and halcyon. Two emotions that on surface level may not be as opposing as one may think.
Within “Landlocked”, the melody is slowed down. It’s a good tempo change, and it matches Ramsey’s pedal steel so damn well. In addition, the violin notes from Jorgensen are perfect here, matching Allen’s vocals at times and the rest of the musicians at other moments. The song is another homage to the past, creating a character and setting because of the eloquent and expressive lyrics Allen wrote.
The last song on the album, “Between Seasons” has a melody that is anchored by piano with flourishes of drums, additional percussion and synth. This song has what I’ll call spine tingling vocals from Allen as she shows off her pitch. It’s a song that will stick with out in the best ways. And remind some listeners of great vocalists of the past. The lyrics introspective, examining a relationship with some self-doubt and acceptance.
Eight Pointed Star gets 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. It is an excellent album, and truly among the best releases of this year. Thus, fitting of solidly within the 4.5 Scum Drop range. It’s an album that at first, caught my attention with its stunning vocals and lyrics. With repeated listens, I appreciated the melodies, compositions and even the lyrics more and more. Kudos to all involved in making this album. The sonic quality is outstanding. I recommend adding it to your collection on any and all formats of your choosing, though vinyl may sound best to hear that wonderful instrumentation.
Eight Pointed Star Track listing (song length)
- I’m the Same (4:13)
- Deep Fake (3:27)
- Red Cloud (4:07)
- Swinging Doors (2:37)
- Bad Eye Opal (3:27)
- Easy (4:32)
- Love Comes Back (2:50)
- Landlocked (3:49)
- Between Seasons (3:32)
Total runtime: 32:34
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The process with this album from start to finish will take you an hour if you listen to it twice. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, the songs that are highlighted in green font above are my favorite songs on this album.
The best place to start with finding out more about Marina Allen would be her Instagram page. The page has tour info, and everything you’re looking for.
If you haven’t read her artist essay, here’s the link to it.
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
