Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
The North Yorkshire-born songwriter’s new EP is a thing of rare beauty
Chess Club Records
Released: 20.11.15
Every bit of writing you’ll read in the coming 12 months about Billie Marten (and believe me there will be plenty) will preface the article with the fact that Billie Marten is ‘only’ 16. The truth is her age is completely irrelevant. There is no age at which producing such heart-breakingly poignant music becomes normalised.
Billie’s second EP follows on from the widely celebrated debut Ribbon, and is every bit as elegant. Four tracks, including Radio 1’s hottest record in the world Bird, showcase exactly why the North Yorkshire-born teenager is turning so many heads.
The EP demonstrates that Marten is growing into an accomplished composer; soon-to-be-trademark sensitive acoustic guitar is backed up with subtle piano arrangement scattered scarcely across all four tracks. Minimal percussion leaves you hanging on every plucked string and quivering note, showing a righteous confidence in the texture. Bird is undeniably the standout track but the whole EP is drenched in beauty.
Her fan base already includes Lucy Rose, with whom she spent two weeks on the road last month, Lauren Laverne, Huw Stephens, George Ezra, Zane Lowe and Ed Sheeran. One listen and you can be sure to add your name to that illustrious list.
