Album Details

• Artist: Marissa Nadler
• Album: Little Hells
• Label:
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: tosnob on 2009-04-19

On Little Hells Nadler builds upon the medieval soundscapes of her previous albums. What we get that's different from her is a greater emotional depth and reach. The music, lyrics, and the images they conger envelop the listener and take them further into Nadler's personal world than ever before.

Nadler's songs are pretty yet stark dreamlands. Tracks such as "Loner" swirl around you, creating an ethereal fog through which you can see, and almost touch, the places and people she sings about.

The haunting vocals are the main attraction on Little Hells. However, Chris Coady's deft production touch, and the wrenching musical arrangements (like the music box sound on "Heart Paper Lover") provide an exquisite frame for Nadler's beautifully touching voice.

While Little Hells does hold it's Gothic minstrel continuity well, there are some intriguing musical elements included. "Mary Comes Alive" features a hollow electronic backing effect, while the title track boasts a compelling medieval twang. The album concludes on the strangely uplifting "Mistress".

Little Hells proves that Marissa Nadler has come a long way to filling the void for those of us who lament the absence of Hope Sandoval on the musical landscape.

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