EP Review: Holly Macve - 'Time Is Forever'
Folk musician Holly Macve’s upcoming EP, Time Is Forever, is set for official release on 2nd February.
Originally from the west coast of Ireland, Macve’s mother took her to West Yorkshire as a young girl, where she grew to admire the Hollywood greats, specifically Elvis Presley, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers. This sparked Macve’s interest in film and music, thus indicating her bright artistic future. These days, Macve is based in Brighton.
Her career as a folk artist began in 2017 with her debut, Golden Eagle, deeply influenced by traditional bluegrass and country-western music. Her second album, Not The Girl, came out four years later in 2021 and received wide-reaching support from the likes of Dork, NARC. Magazine, and Pitchfork. Between her albums, Macve released a handful of singles, such as “Another Day,” which was recorded at Kingston University’s Visconti Studio in 2019.
Over the years, Macve has performed at SXSW, Glastonbury, EuroSonic, The Green Man, and AmericanaFest. Last July, she performed at BST Hyde Park with Lana Del Rey. This September, she plans to play at Edinburgh Psychfest.
The five-track Time Is Forever is much anticipated with Macve’s collaboration with featured guest Lana Del Rey, highlighting Macve’s recent creative achievements, not to mention her collaboration with Laura-Mary Carter on their cover of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Moon.” Time Is Forever combines folk bathed in dream pop and shoegaze, dusted with nostalgic elements, a musical memoir of time and timelessness.
The first song on the EP, the bluesy ballad “Beauty Queen,” is a tribute to Macve’s 18-year-old self who was taken advantage of by an older man, only perceived as a ‘beauty queen.’ Now, she’s looking at her past through the lens of her older self. She instructs this younger version to “Be free, beauty queen,” giving her freedom. She’s taken off her crown and smile as the years have gone by, realising her worth. She sings: “One day, you will shine without it.” Macve’s soft, lilting vocals paint a romantic melancholy, taking on more jovial notes at the end, musically akin to Macve’s self-growth journey.
The next track, the six-minute-long “Dreamer,” is Macve’s reflection on her partner being a ‘constant contradiction.’ He simply sees her as an unrealistic ‘dreamer,’ to which she replies: “You’re blowin’ out the candles in my heart.” She’s brokenhearted yet can’t help but love him. There’s a larger-than-life expansiveness here with the booming drums and lush reverb, placing the listener in the same lofty dream Macve is in. Elements of ‘80s nostalgia fill this one, like the big drums and the synth accompanying Macve’s voice, trailing out the song with her.
“Suburban House (ft Lana Del Rey)” discusses the loneliness of living in a stereotypical suburban neighbourhood and experiencing what others may view as the perfect life. The song’s character feels she has no control over her life, watching her marriage suffer and her life go by: “I’ll sit back in my suburban house/No white picket fence is going to save me now.” Although similar in style, Macve and Del Rey’s contrasting vocal timbres provide an interesting blend of textures. The sentimental piano tune adds a touch of old Hollywood, acting as an afterthought to Macve and Del Rey’s sentiments.
The title track, “Time Is Forever,” is musically heavier than the rest of the EP with its gritty, juxtaposed drums creating a rhythm with Macve’s vocals. A shiny synth sparkles into the song now and then, giving it a more glamorous appearance. One of Macve’s last lines, “And there’s no going back/’Cause time is forever,” depicts the permanence of life decisions and the changes that come with them. The meaning could be interpreted in two ways: very positively or very negatively, and the song musically changes to fit this duality, going from highs to lows and back again.
The final song, “1995,” was released as a single in January ahead of Time Is Forever to keep Macve’s fans on their toes. “1995” is about finding hope in hard times, particularly in a troubled relationship, and trusting in the future when it seems hopeless. The sombre piano chords and Macve’s breathless vocals add to the bittersweet lyrics, as heard in the chorus: “Look into my eyes, tell me we’re okay/This time I believe you like never before.” The sun has set on Macve’s new EP with this track, closing it out with an optimistic premise.
Time Is Forever offers an inside look into Macve’s revelations on the past, her relationship woes, and life changes. Macve has given her audience a new musical flavour with this EP, slowly moving into the realm of lush pop ballads with a lingering Americana influence.
Listen to Time Is Forever on your favourite streaming platform today and catch Holly Macve at The Lower Third in London on 20th February.
Words by Sydney Kaster
