Minimal synth artist Chris Stewart aka Black Marble has announced the release date for his new album Bigger Than Life. It will emerge in October on his new label Sacred Bones and comes a full three years after the excellent It’s Immaterial, which placed #7 in our top albums list in 2016. The first single from the record is the sweeping two speed beauty ‘One Eye Open’, which sees Stewart smooth the edges and apply brighter sheen to the usual shades of contrast and bring his vocals further to the front than ever before.
Some are saying this has brought a warmth to Black Marble’s music in comparison to his first two albums but truth be told, it’s always been there. Indeed its the enticing contrast in sonic temperature and the sheer energy exuded within the minimal and lo-fi borders that makes Black Marble so unique. And ‘One Eye Open’ simply takes that forward in a slightly more heightened way, one that mirrors the anxiety, but also the outward reflection present in its lyrics. About an artist whose afflicted with self doubt, Stewart has this to say about the track;
“We seem to like when our public figures take a fall, which sort of makes sense considering societies long standing desire to publicly flay the fortunate as catharsis, but I’ve always found it ironic that artists/musicians seem to fall into this category as well considering the disparity in income between say, a famous actor and a middling indie musician. Either way, “One Eye Open” is loosely based on the visual metaphor of a high wire artist in a three ring circus who elicits ooh and aahs from the crowd, but after awhile starts to perform with one eye open as they grow restless.”
One Eye Open comes accompanied by a Stewart and Ben Pier video centring on a girl riding one of those new fangled love/hate electric scooters which Stewart himself finds “awesome” and devil may care liberating. Listen to One Eye Open below and pre-order Bigger Than Life here. It’s out on Sacred Bones October 25.
Tracklist
1. Never Tell
2. One Eye Open
3. Daily Driver
4. Feels
5. The Usual
6. Grey Eyeliner
7. Bigger Than Life
8. Private Show
9. Shoulder
10. Hit Show
11. Call
One Eye Open
Black Marble (USA)
From the forthcoming album, ‘Bigger Than Life’, Sacred Bones. Out Oct 25.
Audio Stream
Official Video
