Released:
Rating: ★★★★
Yes, it’s taken a while. For nearly five years it’s felt like Marsicans have been on the cusp of releasing a debut album, but they’ve taken a different path. Touring, gaining experience not just in music but life too and writing at the right moments. It’s testament to Marsicans that ‘Ursa Major’ arrives with an added sense of anticipation and pressure built from a devout following that has taken them around the world and back – and across its 16 tracks and interludes it delivers a feverish shot of pure indie adrenaline.
For the lazy listener that wants to dismiss what they think of Marsicans as guitar-swinging anthems only, ‘Ursa Major’ revels in its layers. ‘Sleep Start’, ‘Juliet’, ‘These Days’ and ‘Can I Stay Here Forever (pt. II) deliver that scorching energy in abundance, but Marsicans bring new flourishes to their every move – stepping aside from the pack with cracking results. ‘Someone Else’s Touch’ is a devastatingly raw ode that practically captures the exact sound of lost love and heartbreak, ‘Dr Jekyll’ sits along chilling plucked lines before exploding into a ferocious pounce and with ‘Summery In Angus’, Marsicans spotlight their effortless ability to serve up Beach Boys harmonies at one moment followed by mid-00s indie and alt-rock at the next.
It’s a combination that works in splendour. That raw knack for taking everyday life and those subtle emotions felt by all and turning them into sky-high indie anthems primed to be sung back by the bucketload – now that’s worth waiting for.
Jamie Muir
