Eliza Marshall adapts and preserves with a spiritually uplifting and inspirational set.

A CAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION

A series of single releases have more than whetted the appetite for the full blown, nine part journey that is Eliza Marshall’s Eternal Birth. A combination of evocative atmospheres and rhythms inspired by life cycles and continuity. Eternal Birth is a musical journey that reveres the natural world as a living archive of our ancestors. A celebration and call to acknowledge the unseen and powerful bonds we share with the Earth. The natural order of things and a nod to with those who came before and the new generations to come.

A New Age bent, a focus on a less is more subtlety and an essence of emotional pull, They Listen sets the expectation. Eliza’s African musical adventures clearly coming to fruition, while adding a spoken word element -“oh lonely oak...” the ancient tree – that sets up the philosophy on which Eternal Birth is built. The rich warmth of the mood sees the bar set almost impossibly high.

Regular use of spoken word add a narrative and the sort of light and airy flute that makes Ranagri’s The Hare such a wonderful piece via Eliza’s trademark breathy flute and wind instruments. However, the cross pollination with world music sees the contributions of Ady Thioune, Ansumana Suso and Johnny Kalsi. The rhythms take a particular turn in the spotlight on Our Times – conjuring visions of Eliza flirting with the racks of tuned percussion and electronic loops; the organic crossing swords with modern technology

CELTIC VIBES

Against the Eternal Birth album title, the New Birth track (voted FATEA’s Single of the Year 2025) sees busy percussion lead into a groove with the whistles that create what we initially felt was a Celtic vibe. The choral parts reminiscent of Mike Oldfield’s ‘Diana…’ choral passage in Incantations. And while he picked up on the work of Longfellow on that album, Eliza finds the work of Thomas Hardy (West Country connections here) as an inspiration.

The Celtic vibe wafts through prominently on the two part Lonely Oak. The tree a recurring theme with the analogy in its role supporting life. Sequenced (a) to bring closure to each side of the LP pressing, or (b) opening and closing side 2 (not sure which but could be wrong on either count…) they add an unconscious reminder of the theme of continuity and cycles whose roots and threads inspire and run through the album.

On And On is simply ethereal. Enya territory with distant angelic voices and a ever so gentle pulse – some harp (maybe) or Ansumana Suso’s kora (possibly) and wafts of flute and voice. The latter often sitting deeper in the mix and indecipherable but reminiscent of the famous Gabrielese method of setting up a vocal melody. Simply gorgeous.

Roots Entwined might be the nearest to stepping into the Ranagri circle. The lightness and dancing melody in contrast to the deeper intensity that the almost tribal rhythmic focus brings to Dust To Dust. However, wherever the needle lands on Eternal Birth, the experience will reap rewards. Listen. In the end, words really don’t do fair justice, however hard we try. Beautiful and bright, rich and rewarding, deep and fulfilling. Pair up any combo of adjectives – even contrasting ones (we just whipped up ‘intimate yet cinematic’) – in the same vein and you’ll be in the right ballpark.

Here’s Roots Entwined:

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