If my first encounter with Marine Store Dealer, via previous single, “Dead Men’s Songs,” showed that they had a masterful way of making fascinating music that runs along the pop-rock line of demarcation, “Speed Back To Me” sees them push their inventively cinematic sound into more indie-folk realms.
“Speed Back to Me” at first appears to be that typical song found towards the middle of an album, positioned to allow for breathing space and a change of pace after a flurry of faster numbers. But they do this so well, this balladic blend of shimmering indie and folk finesse, that if this were the opener to an album, it would be perfectly placed. (Although I would probably need to play it a handful of times before heading into the rest of the tracks.)
First impressions can be only that, and “Speed Back to Me” feels like a band deliberately showing us that they are not stuck in one sound or style after the more energized “Dead Men’s Songs.”
It’s a great song, one that is all about understatement and space. Space that allows beats to be sparing, basslines to gently underline rather than drive, pianos to chime, guitars to cascade, emotive lyrics to flow, and, as it builds, a meandering violin to almost take over vocal duties, continuing the sentiment in feeling rather than mere words.
I loved the sound of the earlier single, and I love these very different tones and textures that make “Speed Back to Me” what it is. And what it is summed up in one word. Gorgeous. (If you want two words try flippin’ gorgeous.)
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