Marsicans – ‘Ursa Major’

Marsicans have been gracing festival stages across Europe for the past few years, building up a fierce fanbase through an increasingly electric live show and catchy as heck songs that easily attract fans of all shapes and sizes. Since 2015, we’ve had singles and EPs aplenty from this northern four-piece, but it’s only now, after five years of slowly but surely falling in love, that we’ve been treated to a full album. An album made up of a massive 16 tracks, no less. 

Based on previous releases, it’d be easy to expect an album that would make up the soundtrack of your summer, and in some ways that’s exactly what ‘Ursa Major’ is – following a soft 26 second introduction, tracks such as ‘Juliet’, ‘Sleep Start’, and ‘Summery in Angus’ all demand that you get off your arse and start dancing, but this record proves that there’s more to Marsicans that meets the eye. In between those catchy indie-pop / rock pieces, the band share a softer side – a side that still screams summer, but perhaps a bittersweet sunset on the beach as opposed to a raging pool party. 

This more subdued side of the band is first shown through ‘Dr Jekyll’, and even when the pace picks up during the chorus, there’s still a melancholy undertone throughout. It continues into the first interlude, a muffled instrumental that fades into ‘Evie’, a track that tackles divorce from the perspective of a father who doesn’t quite know how to answer his daughter’s questions. 

The true devastation, however, kicks in as we reach ‘Someone Else’s Touch’ – a heartbreaker that anyone who’s ever lost someone to another will easily relate to, with a sad acceptance. It’s a sadness that seeps through into ‘These Days’, albeit in an entirely different way, as this track addresses depression and an inability to force yourself to go out and do things. In complete contrast to the sound, it’s raw and vulnerable, and shows yet another side to Marsicans that fans might not expect yet will certainly appreciate. 

For those looking for something more upbeat, this is only a few tracks away, following two further interludes – a spoken word poem and an instrumental made up of acoustic guitar and eerie synths – and album stand out ‘Blood In My Eye’. The latter will undoubtedly find itself as a fan favourite upon the release of the record, Newbigging’s vocals proving stronger than ever and perfectly complementing the soft summer vibes his bandmates deliver before launching into ‘Sunday’ a happy track about the comfort of love that will have you wiping away those tears and dusting off your dancing shoes. It’s a feeling that lends itself perfectly to the equally peppy penultimate track, ‘Leave Me Outside’.

In a final move to help listeners wind down, the album’s closing track ‘Should’ve Been There’ is an interesting yet strong choice. Clocking in at less than two minutes, its mellow nature leaves you feeling warm, reflective, and even a little sad as it fades out to nothing with a strong sense of finality.

Whether you’re here for a delightfully catchy riff, a funky bass line, an acoustically fuelled cry, or all of the above, there is something for everyone within the confines of this record. In an industry that’s saturated with indie-pop/rock bands, Marsicans bring something special to the table – something new, exciting, and unique. Newbigging’s vocals alone set this band apart from their peers, but there’s also something about the consistency of the music – the happy-go-lucky riffs, fun bass lines and subtle synths – that, when combined with the powerful lyrics and beautiful vocals, forge the wonderful and easily distinguishable Marsicans sound. 

‘Ursa Major’ is set to be the soundtrack of festival season 2021, made even better for the fact that we’ll have had the time to learn the words and sing along emphatically. We, at least, can’t wait.

YASMIN BROWN