Amongst the obvious deftness of the composition and the delicacy of the deliveries on Somnium, there is something else interesting at work here. It is Marina Matiss’s ability to combine two ends of the musical spectrum, supplely and subtley and do so in such a way that they seem like the perfect travelling partners. There is something of the jazz and classical worlds in the piano that underpins the songs, yet there is plenty that is pop-infused in the vibe of the songs, especially the vocal component.
And so the result is graceful music, which echoes with a more addictive and accessible sense of purpose. Therefore, The songs are sophisticated and poised and only partially belong to the more formal musical realms. Strange Days is playful and buoyant, Give Me Love is angelic and fragile, and Neon Eyes is built on a cascade of chiming and charming notes and an equally charming vocal delivery.
If previous releases have seen her explore everything from alt-rock to electro-pop, indie vibes and pulsating dance music, Somnium is perhaps where Marina Matiss captures her innate musical essence most concisely. No extraneous sounds, no unwanted gimmicks or musical fads, just an artist stripping her ideas bare and the songs being all the more noticeable for it.
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