Derby’s Marseille released their third EP ‘Godiva’ this past Friday via Bubblebrain Records. It follows 2023’s ‘The Dream Is Mine’, which led them to This Feeling’s stages at the Isle of Wight Festival and Y Not this summer. Can they maintain the momentum?
*banner image credit: Anya Maya Photography
Artwork and tour poster courtesy of Songbird PR.
Where the previous EP was primarily indebted to the Stone Roses and Ride’s jingle-jangle moments, ‘Godiva’ leans into The Verve and Ride’s heavier moments. ‘Monkey In The Middle’ continues this direction with a mesmeric power. The guitars now drive with Andy Bell’s purpose on ‘Leave Them All Behind’ in the early part, adding a mystique to Marseille’s allure. The shoegaze dissipates midway, and their love of the Roses comes back via the ‘I Am The Resurrection’ bassline and Squire-esque guitars.
Joe Labrum’s guitars begin as a jingle-jangle breakdown, soon become an all-encompassing ‘Resurrection’ meets ‘Champagne Supernova’ freak-out moment of glory! What prevents them from parody is the rampageous spirit of The Verve’s ‘Come On’. This is partly due to frontman Will Brown’s vocals during the climatic stages. Moreover, it’s the intensity which they impart as a collective. Full on and all ablaze, they maintain a relentlessness destined to play massive stages, not for the money but for people, togetherness, and immortality.
Where ‘Monkey In The Middle’ stared down the world with its psychedelic directness, ‘She Can Fly’, as the title suggests, has a more ethereal quality. Without losing a scintilla of heft, Marseille have managed to jab and move here with exquisite poise.
With The Verve’s debut album, ‘Storm In Heaven’, as a guiding light, ‘She Can Fly’ leans into the melodic power of ‘Slide Away’. With fleeting moments of driving shoegaze dynamism, the band pays homage to its influences before embarking on its rippling exploration.
Stepping on and off the power provides the perfect counterpoint to the psyche assault of ‘Monkey in the Middle’, which Labrum intercuts with rippling guitar magic that strays from Andy Bell to John Martyn with a drool-worthy effortlessness.
Their love of the Roses loiters on the opener ‘You Don’t Belong To Me’ alongside the lo-fi driving fury of Oasis b-side ‘Alive’. The EP is victoriously sent off into the sunset by ‘If It Hurts Don’t Cry’. ‘Urban Hymns’ sprawling power unites with the majesty of ‘Champagne Supernova’ to make next summer all but redundant.
Marseille have proved time and time again that rock ‘n’ roll belongs in youth culture. Their time is now, and despite next year’s colossus returning, the future belongs to them.
Click the tour poster below for tickets to their upcoming shows:
