Black Marble - Bigger Than Life

by Dave Goodwin

published: 24 / 2 / 2020

Label: Sacred Bones
Format: CD

Fantastic 80's-influenced synth pop on third album from Black Marble, the project of American musician Chris Stewart

Review

There are quite a few people of this type around who I am totally awestruck and envious by what they can do. Everything on 'Bigger Than Life' is written and played by one man. That is a talent that really rocks my boat. Black Marble is the work of Chris Stewart. This is his third album under the banner of Black Marble. If, like me, you are awestruck by someone that can do that and you are an 80's child brought up on early Depeche Mode, Erasure, Kraftwerk, Thomas Dolby, Blancmange and Visage, then you will be in your element when you hear this album . Chris Stewart moved from New York to Los Angeles and swapped his car for a bus pass to get from home in Echo Park to downtown L.A., and 'Bigger than Life' takes in all of those places. 'Daily Driver' is the epitome of this album. It combines an 80's edge with a now sound on it. Think of a male-led Chvrches and you’re there. In writing everything on his MPC and sequencing it live to his synths, he only used his computer to record, not to create. “I try new approaches every time, which helps me stay engaged but also it's kind of a trick I play on the creative side of my brain,” Stewart says. “Keeping one side of my mind busy on organisational creativity I think frees up the other side where the inspirational creativity comes from.” Bringing the vocals forward in the mix and retreating from the reverb-drenched affect he has utilized in the past, he has triumphed in producing arguably the finest vocal performance of his career. It's hard to pick any one track here because the whole album shines and makes me smile. If I had to though, ''Feels', which is reminiscent of Blancmange, is a major standout. Just as in the Human League's 'Dare', there is that 'Get Carter' moment with 'The Usual' while 'Hit Show' recalls 'Empire State Human' from 'Reproduction'. 'Private Show' is straight out of Depeche Mode's 'Speak and Spell', and the excellent 'Shoulder' has its roots in the Teardop Explodes' 'Some Great Reward'. I’m filing this little gem at the front of my collection where I can get to it easily. It's that good. ruddy Marvellous!