Marina Rocks - Texcentric (self-released)

If you think that rock ‘n’ roll music doesn’t have something to say, that perhaps poignant and powerful messages are the bastion of other music forms, then you need to wrap your ears around “Dummin’ Down,” the opening salvo from Marina Rocks latest ep, Texcentric. If you have ever found yourself in the place of your birth and realise that you are shocked at what it has become, this song is for you. Marina might sing about Texas, as that is her obvious point of reference, but the sentiment found here reflects the world over, the injustices and downward spiral of standards, the short attention span, the media bias, the blatant misinformation, the idea of profit over principle and the fact that progress is often anything but.

It’s a great way to open Texcentic, a perfect reminder that guitar music can tick all the right boxes for groove and infectiousness, fun, and addictiveness but also be built on honesty and integrity, depth, and vision. Intelligent roots-rock music? Whatever next?

And if “Willie Hole” is a galloping blues-rock blast and “Nameless” is deft, guitar-driven rock and roll, “Walking On Water” shows her more reflective side, a soul-searching piece built of supple and subtle blues threads, restrained, spacious, and emotive, cinematic and sensational.

There is, of course, room for a standard by an artist she references much and respects even more; Townes Van Zandt’s gorgeous “If I Need You” given a touch of slow-burning, tribal rock swagger in the way that only Marina could. Things end with the atmospheric and awesome “Blue Skies,” an instrumental that is happy to take its time to reveal its scintillating sonic qualities.

Texcentric is more than just a great collection of songs, though, of course, it is that too. It is much more besides. It is proof that rock can be smart in its themes as well as sassy in its delivery. If you take the emotion and subtly of roots music and add it to the energy and edge of rock, then you can create something quite special that doesn’t pander to the cliche of one genre or the bombast of the other but instead balances the best of both worlds.

And more than that, it is proof that Marina Rocks is an artist that you need to have at least one eye on; great things lay ahead!