Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land

Making a welcome return to the quirky pop stylings of her breakthrough period as Marina and the Diamonds, Marina Diamandis strikes a balance between that eras wit and energy and the introspective balladry of her later work on her fifth set, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land. Though not as sprawling as 2019s double album Love + Fear, Ancient Dreams takes a similar approach by thematically splitting itself in two, dividing pain between existential crises and internalized heartbreak. For fans of her earlier LPs, the electrified half of this effort is a nostalgic delight, immediately reviving the trademark vocal cadence and lyricism of Family Jewels and Electra Heart on the opening title track, a pulsing standout that sounds like Muses Uprising colliding with Britney Spears Womanizer. As galvanizing as the former track, Ancient Dreams finds Marina reclaiming her fire, transforming into the eye of the storm and declaring that we are not here to conform. The sentiment extends to rousing anthems like the pounding Purge the Poison -- a fierce rallying cry to fellow witches that targets a litany of societal ills through frantic handclaps and pop-polished riffs -- and Venus Fly Trap, which finds Marina riding an elastic Duran Duran-esque bassline as she empowers listeners to go on the offensive by becoming the titular carnivorous plant. Though more subdued, Mans World sticks to the script, lamenting the destruction of the world by the patriarchy through gorgeous, contemplative production that sparkles through tears. Later, she calls out a broken empire on the bittersweet, synth-washed reckoning of New America. The urgency and catchiness of these highlights threaten to overshadow the quieter half of Ancient Dreams, which follows Marina through heartache territory on the tender Pandoras Box, Flowers, and Goodbye, piano-backed moments of vulnerability that echo major influence Kate Bush. Despite the melancholy, she shines in these intimate, ethereal breaks, comforting the soul just as the hyper anthems inspire movement and action. At a brisk ten tracks, Ancient Dreams is a quick dose of what makes Marina great: heartfelt honesty from a fellow misfit consistently pushing the boundaries of pop. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

マリーナ・アンド・ザ・ダイアモンズ改めマリーナ名義での2年ぶり、通算5作目となるアルバムには、ますます彼女らしいレトロでキッチュな感覚が山盛り。古代文明を引き合いに女性差別やLGBTQ問題など現代的な不条理を訴えるユニークな切り口の"Man's World"やタイトル曲をはじめ、説得力も抜群。後半にはウィットに富んだメランコリックなラヴソングが並び、痛快なポップ・ワールドを展開している。ハインズやベス・ディットーなどガールズ・ロックを得意とするジェニファー・デシルヴェオと共にプロデュースを手掛けたサウンドは、ギラリとグリッターかつエレクトロニックな感触も随所に挿入。フローレンス・ウェルチからラナ・デル・レイまでが見え隠れする七変化ヴォイスも絶好調だ。
bounce (C)村上ひさし