With more than two thousand monthly listeners on an upward trajectory, Marble Raft is like a gleaming beacon emerging from the unfathomable tundra of the Stockholm archipelago.
Dreamy exploration pop, it is intimate and otherworldly. A Swedish indie pop/dream pop duo conceived out of the fanciful minds of Olle Söderström and Gabrielle Baker invite listeners onto their boat: lush, ethereal melodies meet an escapist soundscape rooted in old maps, tales of adventure, and the fragile beauty of exotic flowers.
With references ranging from the Alvvays to Cocteau Twins and Chairlift, their sound intersperses buzzing string machines with chime-y guitars, an eerie mellotron, and the sparkle of bells, spinning tales that feel timeless and refreshing in their originality.
Their latest offering, "Marble Halls" is a luscious, cinematic slice of indie pop that feels otherworldly. I love to mention that "Marble Halls" handles its rhythms with that unique alchemy. 5/4 is unique in its rhythm while the song, as it slips into balance, oscillates nauseatingly between peace and not.
The production of Marble Halls is the most interesting part. It places tricks of sound in what seems to merge into cascades of analog synths, drenching every crevice with sound. The guitar wafts in an organic warmth, while the mellotron and glockenspiel induce an uncanny, ephemeral feeling over what could otherwise be a dejected atmosphere. It's a masterclass in sound storytelling.
The lyrics hereby inform us about what the songs are telling us: the protagonist meanders through the hallways of the city of obsolescence and ruins, the remains of a long-forgotten era hidden in its marble-faced hall. This is to tell about discovery and a nostalgia for beauty giving way to decay. Its charm beneath its cast is strictly due to how infectious the indie-pop track is, having a hear-a-then chorus-only; it has this unknown quality embedded in it that gives you slightly more reward when, upon meticulous listening, you observe it in detail.
The song gives quite a scintillating view of what looks to be the duo’s potential. This song is reflective, taking the listener on transport into the other world-consumed with feeling submerged in something you've always known.
"Marble Halls" reminds us of what patience and art can achieve. Every note sitting back really contains the detail of its world, and the more its listeners succumb to it, the harder it becomes to live in all good faith.
So sit in the quiet, put the headsets on, and let "Marble Halls" sweep you along with its melodies. Stream it; share the experience; and most importantly, feel it.