Marina Florance
Album: Triple A Side
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5
Website: http://www.marinaflorance.com

I don't know about you, but twenty fourteen just seems to have flown by, which is the start of my way of apologising for this review being a touch late, especially as it's a release that deserves it's praises shouting from the roof tops.

If having an EP called "Triple A Side" having five tracks on it looks a little confusing, it's down to a limited edition having a couple of bonus tracks on it and fortunately that's the version I've got to review, two extra tracks from Marina Florance are well worth their weight.

Marina is an exceptional songwriter, she has that natural touch, one that gets to the crux of a story, tells it how it is without feeling a need to sweeten the pot, life for many is hard and that gets reflected in her songs, but not in a bitter way, more that she wants you to think about what goes on around you, both personally and with the world in general.

From the opening track, "The Path He Chose" a song told from the point of view of a mother that looks at the picture of her son who see saw march off to war in the same way that she saw both her husband and father do the same thing. It really does bring it home in a similar way to "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", but a lot more personal and a wonderful setting for the Bill Mitton poem, to the final track, "Breathe", this is a release that makes an impact.

She's joined by blues guitarist and vocalist, Ben Smith on a couple of tracks, which allows her to pick up a great blues vibe, particularly on the upbeat, "Big Legged Woman". Production comes from Lauren Deakin Davies and is really sympathetic to Marina's keep in simple style, the trick is knowing when enough really is enough.

This is an EP that feels rich, that feels expressive. Marina carries emotion in her voice, in a way that few really can and it makes for compulsive listening and easy to recommend checking out.

Neil King