Here at the Send Me Your Ears studio today, we’ve been listening to the debut single from Marlene Larsen. Galore was released on 26th May, 2023, and we’re bowled over by the quality of this 90s/dreampop French artist.
Galore starts with a steady drum beat, bringing in some gorgeous fuzz guitar, creating a dark and brooding feel before the vocals join the mix.
The vocals… oh the vocals!! Marlene’s voice is very distinctive, with sounds formed right at the front of her face, a la Natalie Imbruglia. There is an almost childlike quality to the vocals at the start of the song and they will grab your attention immediately.
As the song progresses, it gets heavier – industrial-sounding moments between the gentle vocal verses create some real excitement, and the use of filtered drums in a more sparse section with gentle vocals give the listener plenty to get their teeth into.
As you progress further through the song, the vocals become driven, higher, more powerful and belted in places, with Marlene displaying the confidence of a highly established artist, rather than a debut.
The rise and fall throughout the song creates a truly dynamic soundscape, and there is some well-considered use of panning of guitars and vocals that create extra energy.
Ideas from our ears
A hi-pass filter set at around 35-40Hz would remove some unnecessary low end rumble. To our ears, the track could benefit from a little balancing between high and low frequencies. Maybe as little as a 2dB cut in the lower 5 octaves and a 2dB boost in the top 5. As always, these are just some ideas from our ears.
Final thoughts
All in all, Galore thoroughly exceeded our expectations. Marlene Larsen has shot to the top of our “ones to watch” list. Her creativity in writing and delivery is outstanding, placing her as an instantly recognisable artist who is clearly following her own path. Amazing stuff!
https://www.facebook.com/marlenelarsenmusic
https://www.youtube.com/@MarleneVLarsen
https://www.instagram.com/marlenevincentlarsen/
https://www.tiktok.com/@marlenevlarsen