Luna Marble : Luna Marble

Self Released

CD / DL / Stream

Out 7th November

After what seemed like an age of anticipation, the unveiling of the debut album from Luna Marble, Manchester’s finest exponents of 70s-influenced classic rock, is upon us. And a classic is exactly what this self-titled beauty is.

With this collection of fan favourites and newer tracks, Luna Marble don’t so much reproduce the sound and image of a bygone golden age as capture its very essence and drag it kicking and screaming into the 2020s with their own unmistakable blend of blues, psychedelia and no-nonsense rock energy. Indeed, it’s remarkable to consider that these four highly accomplished young musicians should feel such an affinity with a brand of music which has its roots in a time long before they were born, let alone have the ability to deliver with such freshness, panache and technical flair. Spearheaded by the twin powerhouses of vocalist par excellence Maria Rico and guitar legend-in-the-making Dragos Colceriu and underpinned by the imaginatively reliable bass of David Grundy, the band have been on LTW’s radar for some time as they’ve released a stream of jaw-dropping singles and staged consistently thrilling live shows, often in the form of their sparkling, self-styled Rock & Roll Circus gigs. It only seemed fair then that we hand over the reins to the band themselves this time and reproduce an ‘in their own words’ guide to Luna Marble – the album.

1.Running
Running as the opening track sets the tone for the themes and approach of this album. This song is about resilience, personal empowerment, and breaking free from anything that tries to hold you back. It was the first song we recorded together back in 2021 and it represents the spark that started the journey to our debut album and our first statement as a band.

2.All of My Love
This is also an early song of ours. All of my Love is not short of an empowering message. Although it is not based on a personal experience, the lyrics were used to follow the fun and snappy groove of the song. However the story is the recurring tension between pain and longing from a toxic relationship. The empowering message lies in knowing your worth by choosing yourself and moving on onto better things.

3. Crazy Loving
Crazy Loving is one of the first songs that Maria wrote at the age of 18. It was one of those songs that wrote itself where the meaning was unknown to Maria at the time but the lyrics seemed to flow to the page as an unconscious reflection of that moment in time. Crazy loving talks about those early insecurities that you have growing up about who you are and about finding comfort in other people and relationships.

4.So Long
This song is about the struggle of trying to juggle the duties of the band to keep moving it forward whilst working your regular 9 to 5 to pay the bills. It captures a sense of exhaustion, disillusionment, and quiet emotional resignation – a reflection on the grind of everyday life and how chasing responsibilities can slowly drain your spirit and push dreams aside.

5. Sea of Sorrow
The song explores the struggle of being stuck in the wrong place and wanting to take matters into your hands to reclaim one’s identity. While the choruses are uplifting, they also express the difficulty of finding yourself lost in the process.

6. Redemption
As many topics in our songs, our lyrics are often uplifting and empowering. This time Redemption talks about giving into love and embracing the experience, finding freedom in doing so and the way that love can feel both like a wild journey and a kind of spiritual redemption.

7.The Ride
The lyrics in this one are rather philosophical in nature creating contrast with probably the lightest song musically on the album. They refer to the fluid and ever changing nature of life which ‘comes on its own’, it happens by itself and, like a river, is ever changing. This is what the song refers to as ‘the ride of life’. To be alive often feels like we are being taken on this ride that is always changing, always new, scary but beautiful.

8.Begging Mercy
From subjugation to rebellion and, ultimately, liberation. Lyrically the song mixes themes of lust and religion. Inspired by Maria’s upbringing in a Catholic school she thought it would be interesting to write a song that is a juxtaposition of catholic practices and lust to bring tension into the narrative.

9. Waves
Inspired by a quote from one of Dragos favorite poems (Mihai Eminescu’s ‘Glossa) –
“What’s a wave will wave away’ and Maria’s upbringing by the sea side, Waves is a love letter to the comfort that Maria finds in the ocean. It’s a poetic meditation on surrender, transformation, and emotional resilience, using the ocean as a metaphor for the unconscious, change, and the healing (but dangerous) power of nature and emotion.

10.Mad World
Mad World was born from a series of Maria’s frustrations and hardships about getting into the music scene, also at the age of 18. Maria wanted to share her fiery passion about rock music with other musicians and with the public. However, the journey was not easy as she encountered the lack of trust and validation that young women in the music industry so often receive. This song is an anthem of resilience, passion, and defiance in the face of a broken world. It’s about holding onto what truly matters – your passion, your dreams, your identity – even when everything around you seems designed to discourage, or defeat you.

So there you have it – a synopsis which draws attention to the care and imagination at play in everything Luna Marble set out to achieve as the album veers from everyday frustrations to otherworldly delights, natural beauty and, of course, that oldest rock staple, love. There is a sense throughout that these songs have evolved organically, with sound and meaning inexorably intertwined, every word and note being there for a reason. The band are rightly proud of their DIY approach and how far they have come in such a short time under their own steam, but there’s also an underlying sense of professionalism and self-imposed quality control at play which ensures they never cut corners or settle for second best. While most of these songs will no doubt remain as cherished entries on future setlists, this collection also marks the drawing to a close of the first chapter of what promises to be an epic adventure, as we wait with bated breath to see what the inevitable sequels will bring.

Photo: Liam Maxwell

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