«It’s Immaterial» Black Marble (English Version)

It's Immaterial
Artist: Black Marble
Year: 2016
Ghostly International
Score: 7.0

I was sitting out in my terrace while listening to this record as the sun began to set , when out of nowhere a bat flies above my head… that’s how dark Black Marble’s sophomore album tries to be. And OK, if we were talking about a swarm of bats I would have freaked out, but just one? you may think to yourself «huh», but that’s it.

Back in the day, (around when I was entering junior high) I got my first iPod which came to great aid in those nights that I use to fall asleep to music from my Discman. I enjoyed putting my +500 songs on shuffle that I thought were A LOT, and once in a while just before falling asleep a song just like «Interdiction» came up.

I get it, this band comes from a retro sound and aims to achieve the aesthetic promises form the 80’s with their love of synthesizers and drum machines, but in retrospective «Interdiction» would’ve make me jump scared out of bed… right now it just seems unnecessary.

«Iron Lung» is the rightful start of this record to me. Simple & nostalgic along a punching bassline with which you can’t but help raise your expectations for the rest of the songs that come up next. This song is a must have on your hipster wedding playlist if your looking to confuse your guest by making them decipher a right way to dance along to this banger.

Sadly, the bar was raised at the very beginning, and immediately it feels as if the album stagnates for a while and suffers a small existential crisis.

The songs that follow lack strength and execution. There are some good ideas in there, but you cannot simply survive from synthwave aesthetic for ever. Melody starts to loose variety and it only takes about two songs in a row like that to destroy the listener attention, for example: «Woods» and «A Million Billion Stars»

Everything turns 180° when «Missing Siblings» and «Frisk» come along and turn up the heat with a more complete sound, better melodies and he right energy to make you move your bones!

Without a doubt «Golden Heart» reaches the peak of recovery. Not only do I hear them play a finished idea, I believe this is the point in the record where all the pretentious mystery and the wannabe deep-abstract songs disappear completely, resulting in a focused effort to deliver a good and fun song.

Nonetheless, «Self Guided Tours» is where Black Marble won me over. I’m not super sure if it’s because of the beer I’m enjoying so far, or that I truly ended up understanding whatever message It’s Immaterial was trying to pass onto me. I’ll admit that I was able to connect with this song.

Just reaching the end of the road its when I began wishing this record wouldn’t stop thanks to «Portland U» and «Collene» showing me the true sonorous potential this album could’ve had.

I truly believe there are good songs in this album that are worthy of going into your road trip mix, that there are also a few that must be far better live, and that this record contains some unfinished ideas yet to explore. It’s Immaterial is more than a sophomore studio album, it’s a transition piece where you can listen to the honest struggle of trying to evolve the sound and character of the band; and in every try to gain some growth there are things we must maintain, and some things that we must discard… it’s not easy, but it’s necessary.