Crystal World by Marnie

"Crystal World" is a glacial electronic pop album by Marnie, the moniker adopted by Ladytron lead singer Helen Marnie for her debut solo project, produced by Daniel Hunt and co-produced by Bardi Johannsson.

Recorded in Reyjavik in August 2012, "Crystal World" comprises ten original songs written while Ladytron are on hiatus. Like Iceland itself, the album evokes the collision of two spheres. "I knew I wanted it to be quite pop and song based," Helen explains. "I also wanted it to be more personal and emotive, which I hope comes across. It's not a dance album. Parts of it are serene and beautiful, others are dark. It's like a landscape that changes over time."

Pulsing lead track "The Hunter" was issued as a single in May 2013, while "Hearts On Fire" lights a torch for dark anthemic pop. Venturing further into "Crystal World", "The Wind Breezes On" glides atop thunderous organ flows, while "Gold" inspires feelings of melancholy and hope in equal measure. At nearly eight minutes, "Submariner" is an epic tale to warm the coldest of hearts, and reflects an enduring love of the sea.

"When I think of the sea," says Helen, "I think of my childhood. I spent a lot of time by water, exploring and having fun. One side of my family hails from the east coast of Scotland, so that's the sea I'm generally referring to. I relate to it because it was a big part of my life. Sometimes I feel enclosed by cities, and so the sea is the getaway in my head."

"I started out playing classical piano, and was introduced to synthesizers when Ladytron formed. The keyboard is what comes naturally to me, and synthesizers can create a lot of warmth and depth and dirt. They're extremely versatile, but with "Crystal World" I knew I wanted real piano on some of the tracks. It's quite prevalent on "Submariner", and on "Gold" as well."

Ladytron's Marnie, continues her solo career with a new album released on June 2, 2017.

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