Marissa Nadler is a singer-songwriter from Massachusetts. Besides the obvious music talent that was discovered very early in her life, Marissa also has a degree in painting, while illustration is her main medium. Plus, she writes poetry.
Marissa has a tendency to often change labels, so she released her new alum Strangers under Sacred Bones Records\Bella Union. She received rife recognition for her third and fourth album due to her departure from pure folk sound and openness to electronic elements.
Luckily, she went back to basics on her sixth album because ambient folk is what she does best. No need for redundant experiments. Focus is on her soft mezzo-soprano, suitable for indolent and dolorous folk songs.
Marissa’s instrument is acoustic guitar, supported by ambient sounds. The intersection of angelic vocal and pleasant guitar produces a style that displays sensibility of female character that aims to be both simple and hermetic at the same time. Marissa’s music is designed as a gestalt of her artistic experience and knowledge. She names Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush as her top music influences. No wonder she sounds angelic.
Strangers brings us songs about love, existential and social problems from the perspective of ayoung woman that experiences them profusely. Marissa is a conscious woman and she insists on it, although she does not only speak to women. In Katie I Know, she speaks to everyone. She is telling you a touching story about what is left after love, and sometimes even while it still lasts – the feeling of distance, of the unknown and strange. The tension in relationships produced by distance is what Marissa wants to sing about, especially on tracks Divers Of The Dust and Hungry Is The Ghost.
Songs about women include Janie In Love and Shadow Show Diane, both gorgeous ballades that effulge sincerity. All The Colors Of The Dark serves as an intermezzo, and it is a completely magical number. Her vocal is so captivating here. I had a feeling I was in the middle of Narnia while listening to All The Colors Of The Dark.
In title track, she says
I am the stranger now
I am alone now
She is a stranger to everyone, except to herself because she is not afraid to analyze emotionally. She is not afraid to put the result of the analysis into songs. Strangers are all those excluded, marginalized and wild people. This album is their dedication.
