Aptly named ‘Selva,’ which translates to ‘Forest’ in her mother tongue, Italian singer-songwriter Marta Del Grandi‘s new album is a dense thicket of ethereal soundscapes and down-to-earth songs. Written mostly on the road and in Berlin, she takes the voices of tradition and progression and moulds them into something new altogether: “If you dive into my fantasy, I’ll dive into yours.”
If Marta’s debut album ‘Until We Fossilize‘ spoke to the heart, ‘Selva‘ speaks to the soul. The live drums and rolling toms present on much of the record give a new power to her iconic vocals and supernal synths – a rallying cry. It’s ethereal pop with guts. And, as tune after tune speaks to an undefined other, it becomes apparent that beneath the gentle melodies, Marta is a woman demanding to be heard.
‘Snapdragon‘ leads this call, opening with a simple, almost primal, beat on the drums before layering isolated vocal chops, a frantic single-line saxophone, and a myriad of delays and distortion. The flower of the same name, thought to be native to Italy, is prevalent in folklore as a protective shield against evil, beautiful yet strong and resilient to its harsh surroundings. This dichotomy is the theme that runs through her lyrics: “Tell me, Snapdragon, will you be my alibi? Will you have my back?“
There is a playfulness and eccentricity to her writing. ‘Chameleon Eyes‘ starts with a bare, almost elementary bass line beneath the words: “Said you would never try to hold me back from who I was, and I believed you because you’re a man.” She clarifies that she meant ‘a man of his word’ in the next line, but not before a large pause that had me chuckling.
However, in my mind, the subtle genius of this album lies in its outstanding arrangement. Recorded in Ghent (Belgium) and co-produced by Bert Vliegen (Sophia, Whispering Sons), the album features a quartet of musicians who have been collaborating with Marta since 2015. In a seemingly impossible feat, they have built an intricate and endlessly varied sonic world that somehow never feels crowded. Vocal drones, solo saxophone, electronica, and live cello come and go faster than you can notice, taking us from sitting in the living room to floating through space in a moment. It makes the journey through ‘Selva‘ a beautifully unpredictable traverse.
But you aren’t left floating for long. Like a traditional folk album, Marta pulls you back to poignant refrains time and time again, which stay with you long after you put away your headphones. A personal favourite: “If not for love, then what is it we lay for” (Mati Hari). At every turn, she resists the urge to overcomplicate, allowing every word and sound to be felt completely.
In a manner that reminds me of British folk-jazz artists Snowpoet and Sunday Lendis, she uses her voice not only to tell stories but also as an integral harmonic and percussive part of the music. This is undoubtedly a testament to her training as a jazz vocalist, alongside her intricate, fluttering melodies that pierce through the multi-dimensional soundscapes almost angelically. In the moments when Marta performs alone, her voice carries a haunting and whimsical quality over simple finger-picked guitar, reminding me of the wonderful Bedouine. Tunes like ‘Two Halves’ are profoundly moving and beautiful, as is the title track ‘Selva’, which she sings in Italian over a choir of her own voices.
‘Selva‘ is the result of allowing your mind to lead where you are often told you should not go. It is brave, beautiful, and boldly unique while preserving the power of the simple song. Marta del Grandi’s celestial world carves out space for astute pop, experimental electronica, and driving modern folk ballads. It’s a mesmerising place.
Order Selva: https://martadelgrandi.lnk.to/Selva