Eliza Marshall in solo guise – a real eye opener.

Release Date: 23rd May 2025

Label: Real World X

Format: download / digital

FIRST STEPS

A musician with many strings to her bow with both Ranagri and numerous ventures which are both varied and original, Eliza Marshall takes her first steps on the solo path. She emerges with three tracks that embrace diversity and and an openness to push boundaries.

First Light a peaceful atmosphere. It fits the bill perfectly in invoking the sound of waking and rising. A piece which pours forth a slow and serene grace, the clever combination of tuned percussion and a snaking flute lines picks up and dances lightly.

A greater emphasis on percussion kicks Our Times into life. A piece that seems to have possibly branched off from the live solo performances we’ve seen. Play the game of guess the instrument and you may find some hammered dulcimer in there or some zither (maybe!?). As the busy-ness of the percussion patterns do the job of seducing the listener, falling like raindrop spatters, distant voices drift across towards the closure.

STAR TURN

The star turn, and if not, then a personal favourite, is New Birth. A relaxing slow build of drone is always a winner in our books. Accompanied by a breath of flute whistling in on the wind, the Celtic flavour of Marillion’s Brave springs to (this) mind. The onset of percussion and kaleidoscope of sounds and rhythms is joined by a hint of the vocal/choral parts found in Mike Oldfield’s Incantations. The five minutes pass in a blink.

Fledging solo steps maybe but striding with a brave confidence. New Birth offers an invigorating breadth that you feel has legs and we can’t wait to see and hear what other offerings might be in the pipelines of the various wind instruments in the Marshall box of tricks.

Look out for our upcoming feature following a chat with Eliza on a handful of topics…including a recent trip to Kenya, the path to a solo project and Real World. Plus, she’s been gigging and we have an on the spot account in the queue!

Eliza Marshall online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / Youtube

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