This delicate, beautiful debut by the Italian singer from Milan with a jazz background infuses her songs with folk and classical and eastern elements in an LP inspired by the Greek myth of Amethyst who defies the patriarchy. Transcending geography, genre and time, Marta’s voice has echoes of Sandy Denny with psychedelic elements and tracks were co-composed with Indian drummer Tarun Balani. Lead single Amethyst is a standout, centring around the woman pursued by the god of wine Bacchus, and who prays to the goddess of the hunt, Diana, to protect her from him and turn her into stone. Bacchus witnesses the transformation and moved by compassion, he pours wine onto the stone that becomes the purple quartz amethyst. Opener Taller Than His Shadow, unfurls slowly with a mystical drone and otherworldly allure. There is also the powerful Shy Heart, infused with tragedy, and inspired by the bush fires in Australia in 2020 and mass wildlife death. Somebody new, meanwhile written on a trip Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, is about the difficulties of change and meeting others’ expectations. Like the jewel, an exquisitely beautiful and mature piece of work, every part polished and entrancing, filled with many angles and light becoming clearer the more you examine it. Out on Fire Records.
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