Poetry (For the Scorned and Lonely) is an intimate project in which Mary Middlefield goes through a soft metamorphosis. Review.
POETRY (FOR THE SCORNED AND LONELY) – MARY MIDDLEFIELD
Sometimes, poetry needs to be raw, solid and direct. This is what Mary Middlefield does by opening her new EP Poetry (For the Scorned and Lonely), with Sexless. There’s an upbeat feel to its chords and arrangements, yet the lyrics are pretty rough. The artist asks herself how she’s reached that point of being sexless and not loved. This roughness combined with a catchy rhythm is an awakening combo. A proximity with the artist arises and Mary Middlefield uses it brilliantly through all her songs.
Whether she opens a new universe in the epic Atlantis, elongating it with the interlude Allodynia, or in the passionate Heart’s Desire, Mary Middlefield sees her emotions bloom. Using intimacy as her starting point, going through sorrow and joy, toxic relationships and uncertainty, she builds up superb and intricate harmonies. And it all transforms into relatable and universal feelings, like the light and bright Love me, Love me not? She puts her peculiar vocals forward, highlighting their soft and smoked textures. With an acoustic or electric guitar, they’re textures that can’t leave her.
Speaking of electric, Mary Middlefield gets some fabulous riffs in Young and Dumb. It’s an unmissable track for me. Its angsty atmosphere reminds me of a thriller. At the heart of this strong track is a toxic relationship, regrets, but also resilience and strength. That strength, she transforms it again in the loving and acoustic Last Letter. To end her EP brilliantly, Mary Middlefield unveils Poetry. If through this intimate EP she goes to the scorned and lonely, she also reminds them, us, that it is a moment in time in which we can create and find beauty. It’ll pass. And this EP will stay, close to our hearts.
