Old Bohemia’s Marie Laveau and Otis Ebenhardt are no strangers to the Scottish music scene as both have done the rounds performing under separate guises, but now the acoustic folk duo have released their second EP, Astral Giants, under this new pseudonym.
From the get-go Laveau’s vocals are enchanting; they’ll wash over you like a sea of tranquillity; this five-track EP perfectly captures the thoughts and emotions that come with living life in your 20s.
Their music acts as a big warm hug, telling you everything will be okay; Ebenhardt’s work on the guitar, during songs like ‘Teeth Sunk Deep’, compliments the serenity that is encapsulated by Laveau’s voice, making their music a perfect contrast to the anxiety-filled topics being delved into through emotive and heartfelt lyrics.
‘Ladder’ and ‘Half Life’ act as counterparts to one another, the former discussing where there’s left to go once you’ve reached the top and the latter focuses on the fear surrounding a downward spiral.
‘Half Life’ stands out as they move more towards a rock-blues sound; the use of guitar becomes more hard-hitting through harsher and heavier strumming and there’s a noticeable change of attitude within Laveau’s voice; it slows down to a soulful close, replicating the theme of the song.
Closer ‘Monday Morning’ is surprisingly upbeat, not what you’d expect from a song named after everyone’s least favourite part of the week; it acts as the ideal closing number, leaving everything on an incredibly positive note.
Including lines like: “Monday morning, start again” and the repetition of “give me more” act as inspiration to use this time as an excuse to start afresh, rather than being full of dread for the week (or life) ahead.
Astral Giants encompasses the universal fears of youth; full of hope and uncertainty, these songs are guaranteed to relate to any listener.
Words: Laura Imrie
