Isabella Sophie Tweddle – artistically known as Billie Marten– is the umpteenth member of that club of women who practice indie–pop with sensitivity, a trend that is currently in high demand. A terrain in which it is increasingly difficult to stand out, precisely given the number of artists who work in similar coordinates and make up that specific section of the scene. A double-edged sword, therefore, that is dangerously torn between the line that separates acceptance from saturation.
Marten has in favor the striking feature that his youth supposes, with twenty-two years just turned and a couple of records –‘Writing Of Blues & Yellows’ (Chess Club, 16) y ‘Feeding Seahorses By Hand’ (Chess Club, 19) – and as many EP’s prior to the present release already under his belt. That (imminent) future projection, together with the good level exhibited over a total of ten cuts, scores positively for this British from Yorkshire who, under the cover of some of the ugliest covers of the year, now publishes what is his third full length. ‘Flora fauna’ (Fiction, 21) is a good album, not an excellent one, made up of compliant songs against which little can be argued.
Such is the case of the initial trio of singles formed by “Garden Of Eden”, “Creature Of Mine” and “Human Replacement”, in addition to “Ruin”, the beautiful “Liquid Love”, “Kill The Clown”, or the delicate “Aquarium” as a closing. In any case, the average note does not unleash euphoria beyond the good future prospects that the vocalist is presumed to be, as it does not present distinctive elements that trigger the matter. Among other things, because that abundant competition already mentioned includes names as interesting (and in many cases established) as those of Laura Marling, Lucy Rose, Angel Olsen, Joan As A Police Woman, Laura Veirs, Loma, Phoebe Bridgers, Laura Gibson, Julien Baker, Natalie Prass O Marika Hackman.
A string of artists who, in recent years, have set the bar very high, also complicating the definitive emergence of companions of the next generation. In any case, Billie Marten has been earned hard and with the virtues included in a good part of ‘Flora fauna’ (Fiction, 21), the royal title of a promising youngster with a clear chance of success in the coming years. Time will tell what the subject is and if the potential is certified or, on the contrary, the English woman will join the ranks of those who ended up staying on the road.
Listen Billie Marten – Flora Fauna
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