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SPILL NEW MUSIC: HEAVY SHOEGAZE BAND LOCKSTEP SHARE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “WEAVE” + ANNOUNCE ‘ARRIVAL’ EP OUT MAY 19
SPILL NEW MUSIC: HANNAH GEORGAS SHARES NEW SINGLE “THIS TOO SHALL PASS” ON ARTS & CRAFTS
SPILL NEWS: THE SMASHING PUMPKINS ANNOUNCE 2023 NORTH AMERICAN ‘THE WORLD IS A VAMPIRE TOUR’ WITH SPECIAL GUESTS INTERPOL, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS & RIVAL SONS
SPILL FEATURE: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM – A CONVERSATION WITH BLAIR PACKHAM (THE JITTERS)
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SKYDIGGERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE “COME TO MY SENSES” VIA LATENT RECORDINGS | TOUR DATES
SPILL NEW MUSIC: EMMA ARMSTRONG – “MAYBE PROBABLY NEVER”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LANA DEL REY – DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE’S A TUNNEL UNDER OCEAN BLVD
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JERRY LEGER – LATENT UNCOVERS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – THE GREATEST SOUL/FUNK & DISCO 12″ SINGLES OF THE 70s AND 80s
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE – MEMENTO MORI
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE KINKS – THE JOURNEY – PART 1
SPILL BOOK REVIEW: JOHN ROBB – THE ART OF DARKNESS: THE HISTORY OF GOTH
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BASS DRUM OF DEATH – SAY I WON’T
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DARREN JESSEE – CENTRAL BRIDGE
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: d3adc0de – “FIGHT OR FLIGHT” (THE CRYSTAL METHOD REMIX)
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: MELØ – “PARALYZED”
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Album Reviews
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK MARBLE – FAST IDOL

Black Marble

Black Marble
Fast Idol
Sacred Bones

Black Marble has grown sonically on their new album. Whereas in the past, listeners came to expect lo-fi bedroom Synth Pop hits, Fast Idol is changing those expectations, one smash hit at a time.

The album starts off with the quiet/ loud / quiet “Somewhere” that begins with its beautiful and dreamy arrangements, then switches gears to a full-on dance number. With pounding drums and synths, the song harkens back to the ‘80s while the production is very now. “Bodies” is a mid-tempo number that sounds live Soviet meets Depeche Mode. It is such a refreshing step forward musically and a dream to hear all of Chris Stewart’s vocals this clearly.

“Say It First” is a throwback to earlier Black Marble songs, yet because of the production again sounds that much fresher. “Street Light” is a full-on Kraut Rock number that is equal parts dance and pop while being melancholy. This is the major appeal of the album. It can be all things at once, which not many albums can be.

“Ceiling” is possibly the best possible single off the album as it mixes ‘80s synths again,  but now with harmonies. Sounding like a modern XTC, Black Marble takes a huge step forward to uplifting the old bedroom Pop to a respectable level of songcraft where songs can stand on their own.

Black Marble should be classified as a big-league indie rock artist, even though I am not sure that is the goal.



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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK MARBLE – FAST IDOL

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album reviewalbum reviewsblack marbleceilingfast idolsacred bones
album review, album reviews, black marble, ceiling, fast idol, sacred bones
About the Author
Jake Collier
Ex-pat living in Geneva, Switzerland from the hard streets of Baltimore, Maryland. Ex-radio-monkey and avid listener of all things that are supposed to be cool.
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