On the Record: Marlon Williams
Releasing a record titled Make Way for Love could be a cynical attempt to capitalise on mandatory card giving and gift exchange at this point in February. But not at all with Marlon William’s sophomore album. This is a timeless break-up album, written by a 27-year-old exploring the end of a relationship.
“It was a necessary thing”, Marlon Williams says, describing his second album – which is focussed on his break-up with fellow New Zealander and singer, Aldous Harding. Sitting in his label’s office in Shoreditch, he explains that the process of writing this album was cathartic, going so far as to describe it as “therapy”.
Williams (when pushed) describes his music as “baroque pop”. His second album is a departure from his self-titled debut. The first had a clear country influence and many of the songs were sung about characters and in the third person. Make Way for Love is a much more personal affair.
In eschewing the traditional and country elements of his first record, Williams has embraced sounds associated with Scott Walker. Lush strings and layered vocals give the album a distinct feeling of being of a different era.
Williams’ singing is the one constant between the two records. It’s an art he believes has been prioritised less over time. “It has become pastiche to sing too well”. Refreshingly, Williams isn’t afraid to show off his singing abilities.
There are moments of real sadness on this record, evoked by a triumvirate of the music, his voice and his songwriting. His pain is evident. The coda on “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore” is heart-breaking, with Williams repeating: “Baby, I can’t separate us out anymore”
The album is a touching memorial to the relationship that Williams had with Harding, but what makes it startling is the duet between the two. Few artists get the opportunity to do this, and fewer still pull it off in the way that Williams and Harding have.
Despite the subject matter, the album isn’t a downer – it is a life-affirming realisation of why it is we are in relationships and why they matter. The videos accompanying the singles off the album are all light-hearted. It’s hard to understand why. Maybe having gone through the catharsis he’s in a much better place. Maybe it’s him putting a brave face on it. Either way, they accompany some of the most alluring music released recently.
Williams has bared his soul to us with the record in the most beautiful way. It’s a remarkable record from a man who deserves to be noticed.