From a new entrant Norwegian lass with her debut EP yesterday (EIRA) to a seasoned top level campaigner today, such is the scope of Nordic Music Central.
That “seasoned campaigner” is Marte Eberson, with whom we have formed a bond over the last few years following her departure from Highasakite and a short stint with the excellent Löv to develop her own unique sound, one that we dubbed ‘Marte Pop’.
And I’m quite happy to hang on to that soubriquet because she has developed a sound that is close to unique. Part mainstream pop, but with her own take on life, its trials and tribulations, and love, and usually with a sultry – and sometimes sexy – sound that washes over you like a Radox bath.
This time she turns her attention to the time of year, and specifically the month of ‘October’, which is almost at an end as Marte released the single by that title and I know from following her social media posts over the years that November is a month she’d rather avoid, staying under the covers until December and the approach of Christmas.
Perhaps it is something about October, with turning back the clocks, darker and longer nights but the consolation of cuddling up on the sofa in front of a roaring fire with a glass of wine or two (or a bottle or two, she’ll know what that means…) that prompts folk to ruminate on life and its many twists and turns.
This time she singles out those people who feel entirely consumed by the ache of someone’s absence. Is she one of those? The trick with Marte is that you never know if she is writing a song or a memoir.
And those songs typically are deeply personal, often nostalgic and drawing on the work of some of the greatest romantic songwriters, with raw emotions on display and her soul often bared.
And you know exactly where she’s going with the opening lines,
“Gazing at the rain; its drop a moment that I can’t reclaim
Drowning in regret; I try but I can’t forgive, nor forget”
(I like the ‘nor’ by the way, that is perfect English).
Or do you? As is often the case with Marte she’ll drop in a line(s) that seems to go against the flow and suggest a different interpretation. In this case they are “I thought you knew me better; I’m not that kind”.
What could that possibly mean?
Musically, it’s the epitome of Marte Pop – lush, dreamy, with oodles of instrumentation and choral backing. It’s downbeat then it’s upbeat, like she’s riding the carousel of life, her grip on the reins faltering then steadfast.
On this occasion the release was organised spontaneously with both Marte and her label deciding to put it out now rather than wait for a year. Good decision.
With all the rush to make a deadline is it as good, as appealing, as her other recent songs?
Is the Pope Catholic?
Find her on:
Website: https://marteeberson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marteebersonmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marteeberson/
