There are a lot of singer-songwriters in this world so it takes something distinctive to make me spend time with one. The voice of Marina Allen is just such a thing. Her warm vocals all throughout her new record, Eight Pointed Star, elevate her work above that of peers mining similar turf.
The last time I raved about a Marina Allen album was in 2021 and I'm happy to report that Eight Pointed Star is equally rave-worthy. Allen's honeyed voice on "Deep Fake" has hints of the young Linda Ronstadt about it, even as bolder opener "I'm the Same" may earn Joni or Bonnie Raitt comparisons from some listeners. Marina Allen is making her own music, purusing her own path, but there's a real lived-in quality to her delivery that makes this release such a pleasure. "Red Cloud" feels a cousin to early Suzanne Vega to these ears, with a faintly jazzy swing about it, even as "Swinging Doors" adds in a slight country swing flavor to the bright, summery song.
Lots of Eight Pointed Star charms and suggests an expanded bag of tricks for Marina Allen. But whatever the production, or instrumental flourish we find here, it's Marina's voice which does the heavy emotional lifting on this album. That said, it's a buoyant long-player, and one which is as comfortable to spend time with as any of the more familiar offerings from any of the artists I've referenced today.
Eight Pointed Star by Marina Allen is out now via Fire Records.
[Photo: Eliel Ford]