Swedish indie pop duo Marble Raft return with ‘Dear Infrastructure’, a shimmering full-length album that captures the magic and mystery of a sprawling metropolis through lush, cinematic soundscapes. Their long-awaited sophomore effort expands on the duo’s signature ethereal pop sound, inviting us into a neon-lit world where curiosity leads the way.
At the heart of ‘Dear Infrastructure’ is a narrative that follows two teenage wanderers exploring the remnants of a once-thriving city. Track by track, they navigate overgrown botanical gardens, decaying concrete towers, and an abandoned zoo where nature has reclaimed its territory. This conceptual journey is reflected in the duo’s intricate instrumentation, blending analogue synths, twelve-string guitars, glockenspiel, mellotron, and autoharp into a rich sonic tapestry that feels innovative but beautifully familiar.
The album features the three previously acclaimed and much loved singles ’Rites of Passage’, ‘To Have and to Hold and to Break’, and ‘Marble Halls’, alongside seven new tracks that further expand the record’s immersive world. Standout offering ‘Intersections, Alleys and Freeways’ serves as an anthemic reflection on navigating chaos, with sparkling melodies and layered harmonies that perfectly encapsulate the thrill and disorientation of urban life.
Marble Raft, the creative partnership of Olle Söderström and Gabrielle Werme Baker, continue to refine their dream-pop aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the likes of Wild Nothing, M83, Cocteau Twins, and New Order. Since their debut LP ‘Geography A’, they have established themselves as masterful storytellers, crafting atmospheric duets that transport listeners to imagined worlds filled with beauty, melancholy, and wonder.
With ‘Dear Infrastructure’, Marble Raft deliver a vibrant experience, an escapist journey through a city bathed in neon light and echoes of the past. Their ability to blend vivid storytelling with a lush, emotive sound cements their place as one of indie-pop’s most compelling voices.
