Bending Genre Norms
Marble Skies is Django Django’s third full-length studio album, following their self-titled debut in 2012 and Born Under Saturn in 2015. The quartet from London has proven their musical diversity in these past works and Marble Skies is no exception.
The album kicks off with the titular track, “Marble Skies.” An upbeat electronic tune bounces throughout the song and sounds like an homage to ‘80s pop. Nearing the conclusion of the song, alternative rock influences become more apparent as the guitar picks up and shines through the heavy synth. Despite all this, it is one of the more forgettable songs on the album.
Within the first few seconds of the second track, “Surface to Air,” Django Django proves their wide range of musical talents. Rebecca Taylor of Snowclub lends her vocals to the track, adding a soft and ethereal aura despite the electronic tune throughout. A few tracks later, “Further” shows even more of the group’s versatility and introduces a folk-rock sound which certainly stands out on the album.
“Tic Tac Toe” is one of the singles that the band previously released. The track features an energetic dance beat, but the heart of the song is rooted in indie pop. The distorted vocals echoing “Tic… Tac… Toe!” occasionally during the song is one of the most indelible moments of the album. “In Your Beat” was also released as a single beforehand and is the perfect blend of modern alternative and ‘80s pop. The synthesized beat is powerful, and Neff’s vocals echo throughout the electric track. If nothing else, both songs are undeniably fun.
Marble Skies proves that Django Django does not neatly fit into one box, and they aren’t trying to. The band flirts with the boundaries of synth-pop, psych rock and more, keeping listeners on their toes throughout the whole album.
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