Marina and the Diamonds – Uk’s Antidote to Gaga Ennui, By Mike Hughes

Diamond Life. I’m still bemused by the take up on UK artists in the US, to the point of having to ask friends like East Portland Blog to tell me what’s famous “over there”, and then even more bemused to find you’re all down with Jessie J (as well you might be) but have scant knowledge of Marina And The Diamonds. Tell me I’m wrong? Marina is but one person, the ‘Diamonds’ being both a reference to her name, Diamandis, (she is Greek / Welsh) and the name she gives her devotees. She has been very savvy indeed in building a fan base that revere the very ground she dances over in stilettos. They should, she is totally fabulous and her music even more so. A good friend of mine, a well respected UK writer, caused some argument and debate at the website we were both writing for at the time for by giving her album 100 out of a possible 100, declaring it perfect. Her only need now, in my opinion at any rate, is to build her obvious and self declared attempt at world domination at a sustainable rate, to avoid ‘doing a Florence’ via over-exposure, and to keep it real. It ain’t Joy Division or The Smiths, it’s pop for Chrisakes; keep that mind and enjoy a great antidote to Gaga ennui. This is an early video, nearly two years old and with over 5 million plays, and a great introduction.

– Sir Mike Hughes (Catshoegazing)