Marble Raft, an indie pop duo from Stockholm, Sweden, has gained recognition for creating ethereal, atmospheric soundscapes that evoke feelings of wonder and nostalgia. United by their friendship, Olle Söderström, and Gabrielle Werme Baker combine their mutual love for ethereal indie pop to produce music that conveys a sense of both reflection and vastness. Their sound, layered with analog instrumentation, stylophone, autoharp, and shimmering guitars, draws inspiration from influential acts such as Wild Nothing, M83, Graveyard Club, Chairlift, Cocteau Twins, and New Order. Marble Raft’s 2021 debut album, “Geography A”, garnered critical acclaim, establishing them as one of Sweden’s standout indie acts.
Their newest track, “To Have and to Hold and To Break,” unveiled on November 29, 2024, offers a captivating mix of youthful exploration and foreboding mystery. Serving as the second single from their forthcoming album, “Dear Infrastructure”, the song narrates the journey of two teenage characters exploring the illuminated turmoil of a spectral city. Driven by an unexplainable, nearly otherworldly power, the pair sets off on a vibrant nighttime adventure brimming with danger, thrill, and passion. The track embodies the juxtaposition of city deterioration and the perseverance of the human spirit, blending vibrant beats with rich, melodic layers. Recorded in the serene Stockholm archipelago, the single encapsulates Marble Raft’s knack for turning the natural into the surreal. Self-written, recorded, and produced by Olle and Gabrielle, the track boasts intricate layers of analog instrumentation that create a rich, immersive listening experience. Henrik Andersson Vogel’s mixing expertise brings every sonic element to life, ensuring that each detail, from the sparkling guitars to the haunting vocal harmonies, resonates deeply. Accompanying the single is an eerie music video by Jonna Laurin, which expands on the track’s themes of mystery and adventure. Together, the song and its visual counterpart offer a tantalizing glimpse into Marble Raft’s upcoming album, “Dear Infrastructure”, set to release in February 2025.
“To Have and to Hold and to Break” begins with a tranquil yet evocative introduction, setting the stage with an ethereal blend of shimmering sounds and gentle guitar strums. The opening is steeped in a dreamy atmosphere, immediately transporting you into a world where reality and imagination intertwine. This serene start, delicate and deliberate, paints an auditory picture of a quiet moment before the bustling life of the song’s narrative unfolds. There’s a sense of anticipation as if the track is holding its breath, preparing to plunge into the pulsating energy of its core.
Instrumentally, the guitar plays a central role in crafting the dreamy ambiance of “To Have and to Hold and to Break”, its soft, reverb-drenched chords evoke a sense of introspection and curiosity. Layered atop is a subtle hum of analog synths that shimmer like distant city lights reflected in still water. These elements together form a sonic tapestry that feels otherworldly yet grounded, reflecting the single’s themes of urban exploration and youthful adventure. As the drums enter, their vibrant, energetic beats immediately contrast with the calm atmosphere, injecting life and movement into the track. The rhythmic patterns are sharp and dynamic, mimicking the unpredictable pulse of a city at night. “To Have and to Hold and to Break” progression mirrors an emotional journey, guided by the instrumental layers that ebb and flow seamlessly. The interplay of instruments evolves throughout the track, as layers of stylophone and autoharp weave in and out, enriching the soundscape with a raw, almost tactile quality. Each instrumental element serves a distinct purpose: the guitars provide a melodic foundation, the synths conjure a sense of vastness, and the drums propel the track forward with a faster pace and relentless momentum, making it upbeat and vigorous. As “To Have and to Hold and to Break” builds, the atmosphere grows denser, creating an emotional crescendo that evokes both wonder and unease.
In “To Have and to Hold and to Break”, the vocals are a driving force that breathes life into the song’s intricate narrative and atmospheric soundscape. Gabrielle Werme Baker’s voice imbues the song with a luminous sweetness, her delivery both tender and evocative. Her vocals float above the dreamy instrumentation, setting an ethereal tone that feels otherworldly. There’s a delicate fragility to her voice, yet it carries an underlying strength as if beckoning the listener to step into the song’s vivid urban odyssey. Each word she sings feels imbued with wonder and curiosity, capturing the innocence and excitement of youth venturing into the unknown. Olle Söderström’s deep, resonant baritone grounds “To Have and to Hold and to Break” with a contrasting weightiness. His voice exudes quiet confidence, providing a sense of stability amidst the song’s shifting textures. The combination of Gabrielle’s clear, shining vocals and Olle’s deep, resonant tones establishes a vibrant tension that reflects the song’s contrasting themes of light and darkness, thrill and risk, discovery and caution. This vocal distinction is amplified in the chorus, as Gabrielle’s light soprano blends with Olle’s baritone. This contrast creates a harmonious balance that mirrors the protagonists’ relationship, their voices rising and falling in tandem like a conversation between two perspectives. Together, they achieve a symphony of balance, their duet radiating both intimacy and grandeur. The emotional depth of the vocals is palpable throughout “To Have and to Hold and to Break”. Gabrielle’s delivery carries a sense of vulnerability, her singing delicate yet intentional. In contrast, Olle’s interpretation feels introspective and contemplative, as though he is narrating the weight of the city’s mysteries. Both singers demonstrate a remarkable ability to convey the song’s complex emotions, not just the excitement of discovery, but also the subtle undercurrent of unease that permeates the narrative.
Lyrically Marble Raft’s “To Have and to Hold and to Break” weaves themes of adventure, urban decay, and the irresistible allure of the unknown into an evocative indie pop anthem. The song’s narrative centers around two teenage protagonists who venture into a ghostly metropolis, exploring its neon-lit heart despite the evident dangers. The lyrics are rich in imagery, conjuring vivid scenes of a city alive with both mystery and peril, and resonate with themes of youthful recklessness, exploration, and fleeting connections. Drawing the listener into the surreal urban odyssey with lines like “We named your streets, and scaled your towns, with something caught, stir some fault somewhere within the city heart,” the city is referred to as if it is a living entity with a “heart” capable of being fractured. This personification, combined with the use of verbs like “scaled” and “stir,” suggests an almost primal confrontation with the urban environment. The protagonists are not merely passersby but active participants in shaping or disturbing the city’s essence. This lyric encapsulates the tension between creation and destruction, a recurring theme throughout “To Have and to Hold and to Break”. The chorus, delivered as a harmonious duet by Gabrielle and Olle, intensifies the narrative’s emotional weight.
The lyrics “And this city is ours to have and to hold and to have and to hold and to break.” The repetition of “to have and to hold” evokes the vows of a marriage ceremony, suggesting a deep bond or commitment to the city. However, the addition of “to break” subverts this traditional promise, introducing a sense of impermanence and fragility. The juxtaposition of holding and breaking mirrors the duality of the protagonists’ journey; a mix of exhilaration and destruction, love and loss. It’s a powerful encapsulation of youth’s impulsive desire to both claim and challenge the world around them. The most haunting imagery appears in the references to the city’s ominous inhabitants; Traffic lights, neon signs, and beasts roaming. The mention of these elements evokes a dystopian landscape where human connection has been replaced by wild, untamed forces. The contrast between the artificial (traffic lights, neon signs) and the natural (beasts) symbolizes a city caught in a state of flux, where the boundaries between civilization and chaos blur. Marble Raft’s use of vivid, sensory-rich language is particularly effective in evoking the song’s themes. The lyrics are rich with metaphors that express both the charm and danger of adventure. The protagonists’ trek across the city can be seen as a symbol of adolescence; an exciting, tumultuous period characterized by a desire to explore and the certainty of experiencing loss. The recurring tension between beauty and destruction underscores the fragility of the world they inhabit, a sentiment that is universal and deeply poignant.
The production quality of “To Have and to Hold and to Break” stands out as a masterclass in balancing indie pop’s raw, emotional essence with polished, layered instrumentation. The track’s production merges the duo’s signature dreamy aesthetic with intricate, analog soundscapes. Henrik Andersson Vogel’s mixing adds an unmistakable depth and clarity, ensuring that every element, from the shimmering synths to the textured guitars, receives its due space in the sonic landscape. “To Have and to Hold and to Break” is a captivating blend of energy and introspection. Marble Raft successfully creates an auditory journey that is both nostalgic and forward-looking, marrying vibrant indie pop with cinematic storytelling. The song resonates with a youthful longing and a sense of adventure. The vivid lyrics and layered instrumentation transport the audience into a pulsating cityscape, teeming with mystery and life, while the vocal performances evoke genuine emotion.
“To Have and to Hold and to Break” is a must-listen for fans of ethereal and evocative indie pop. The song not only sets high expectations for Marble Raft’s upcoming album “Dear Infrastructure” but also solidifies their place as masterful storytellers in the indie music scene.
Dive in, and let the music take you on a spellbinding journey through the heart of a neon-lit metropolis.
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