Black Marble’s Bigger Than Life is certainly bigger than anything they’ve put out before. This coldwave synth pop project from Christ Stewart has been known for their 80’s influenced nostalgia and takes it to new heights in their third release, embracing pop elements rather than keeping them at a distance.
Bigger Than Life differs from Black Marble’s other projects in the sense that it is more earthly than both 2012’s A Different Arrangement and 2016’s It’s Immaterial. Rather than asking the bigger questions about the universe, Bigger Than Life asks questions about humanity and life on Earth, specifically Los Angeles.
Stepping away from his New York origins, Stewart distances his music from otherworldly gloom to a place that is much brighter and melodic. The synth grooves aren’t as cold and make you grateful, even excited, to be alive and to have a story. Every note is springier and lives in synergy with a bouncing baseline that grounds you in a reality you wish would last forever.
At times, it’s easy to miss the bass-laden heaviness and reverb of the previous releases. The songs are catchier and cleaner than Black Marble has ever put out, which can feel less interesting at times. One thing that Black Marble has yet to fail at, however, is bringing about a sense of nostalgia, which Stewart is able to approach from a more lyrical angle rather than a sonic one in this release.
From the release of Bigger Than Life, Black Marble is brought from a place that is otherworldly, to one that exists right here. Going from New York City to Los Angeles, the project is brought out of the gloomy shadows it once remained in and into a dreamscape on Earth.
Track Highlights:
Opening track, Never Tell, encapsulates the newer sound with synth beats that call back to bright new wave influences, rather than darker, goth-ier, atmospheres. In the footsteps of New Order, Black Marble’s artistic path is increasingly full of life and makes it feel like you have a soundtrack for your own.
Feels, one of the first single releases, repeats the phrase “I had a radio show”, speaking on Stewart’s younger days of running a late night radio show. Despite being so literal and specific to his own experiences. Feels is full of yearning and nostalgia– a definite standout on this release. The description to the music video reads “No matter how vivid a memory, we must all keep moving forward” and that feels definitive of the album in itself.
The Usual comes in as a refreshing middle-point in the album; a piano driven instrumental lullaby, a childhood sonic dreamscape.
Grey Eyeliner seems to shimmer against the rest of the tracks. The titular phrase is repeated throughout, making this the most palatable track. Even those not familiar with the genre would feel at home. Bright synth beats still bear the metallic coldness of new wave, but manage to do so in a sunny manner– like rays bouncing off a metal bench on a spring day.
Black Marble’s new album ‘Bigger Than Life’ is out now