Aged only 26, folk-pop singer-songwriter Billie Marten already has five albums to her name, and the newly released Dog Eared shows Billie’s work is only getting better.
The North Yorkshire jazz-pop artists’ latest collection of songs is available now from Fiction Records, and the vintage jazz sound showcases Billie doing what she does best.
The full-band introduction of Feeling lets the opening track invite the listener into just what to expect over the next 40-odd minutes. Although the album switches between a full band and a much more mellow sound, it remains consistently reminiscent of Laura Marling or even the music of Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell. The 1970s jazz-pop feel is reinforced by the instrument selection, which relies on the Hammond organ and avoids anything particularly in-your-face, aligning with the calming flow of the record.
The guitar solo in Leap Year stands out as one so smooth and relaxing you might just miss it, yet you also find yourself intently listening, each note making an impact. This tone contrasts with a later guitar solo in You and I Both, which is impactful in its own way, whilst also adding some noticeable crunch to Dog Eared.
In Crown, Billie repeats ‘I am not afraid’ and this is actively apparent from the subtle differences that make each track special, whether it be syncopation, a sudden musical interlude, or perhaps the particularly fun descending keyboard line, which quickly closes out the aforementioned song.
Each album track brings something new to the table, and that’s what makes Dog Eared so good. For example, Clover sounds dissonant at first, but Billie’s lyrics and almost hypnotic melody line draw you in, making it one of the standout tracks on the album.
At two minutes and forty-five seconds, the closing song Swing is arguably the most upbeat song on the entire album. A few beats of the snare drum kick off an ear-worming riff, before the metaphorical poetry that is Billie’s songwriting finishes up proceedings.
“Give me two tickets to the end of the Earth, it’s sold out,” Billie sings.
Dog Eared by Billie Marten is out now via Fiction Records. Billie Marten will tour throughout Europe and the UK later this year, stopping off in Belfast, Bristol and London, among other cities.
