EP Review: Madeleine Rose Witney - 'From Now On'
Smoky, seductive and sublime : Madeleine Rose Witney and her debut EP ‘From Now On’.
It’s a rare joy to find a voice that takes you back in time. It can be the use of familiar melodies, it can be a tone reminiscent of those who sang before us, it can be instrumentation from a world unknown. With the case of Madeleine Rose Witney and her newest release, calling it a time machine wouldn’t be enough because it doesn’t capture the whimsy and almost magical quality that comes from listening. If there was perhaps an enchanted time machine; one that transported you to a smoky Soho speakeasy where the drinks are strong and sweet and where time is both rooted in the past and impossibly in the future and somehow all the lights glitter : that would be how to sum up ‘From Now On’. Witney and her artistry has always brought new meaning to nostalgia. This record is homage to the London she has grown up in; from the chaos of Kentish Town to the glamour in Soho. Over the 4 tracks, she chronicles the city (and its ghosts) that have shaped her into the person she is today, each painting a vivid picture that captures both the grit and the beauty of the place she calls home.
The stories start where they often do - during the aftermath of a night out. Opening track ‘Shine’, spun with acoustic guitar and soft strings, is a tale of a young woman walking home alone after an evening out on the town. Expertly balancing empowerment with emotional complexity, she explores the vulnerability and fears felt by women at nighttime and manages to find something beautiful and heartfelt from the dark. Her use of retro aesthetics and instrumentation to unpack and give commentary on a contemporary and pertinent issue is deliberately jarring and she explains that the track’s melodies are ‘set to a jolly tune with intentional juxtaposition’. The mismatch and disconnect between a cheerful, bubbly arrangement and the more serious and dark subject matter and context go to show how effective Witney is as a communicator and storyteller. Her songwriting is not about direct confrontation of an issue but rather allowing listeners to understand through subliminal absorption. Lyrics like ‘reclaim the night’ and imagery like ‘fistful of keys’ act almost like a coded language; understandable only to those who recognise the deeper meaning through shared experience. It is a very bold way to kick off the EP but makes a lot of sense when you come to understand the kind of artist Madeleine is. Things aren’t as shiny as they seem on the surface - you discover the truth of things when you really listen.
Things move swiftly on with ‘Struttin’, a wonderfully witty caricature of a close friend. The man at the centre of the story, an old flatmate of Witney’s, is coloured in with funk driven soul and old school rhythms, each groovier than the last. She teases about the realities of living with a man of a certain age, particularly one who still lives in the London of the sixties and seventies. Its affectionate, playful and crackling with charisma.
‘It’s a show-stopping moment for a very individual character… he’s lived the same for 30 years, untouched by time, leaving toast crumbs in his wake.’
As is the case with all of her songs, there is deeper meaning to the track. Beneath its funky vitality, there is insight into manhood, masculinity and the fading colorful figures who made up London’s underground. It’s a love letter to eccentricity and embracing quirkiness because it’s those people whose stories linger long after they are gone.
The tone shifts on ‘Shut Up And Kiss Me’. A mosaic of words from her loved ones, it is a highlight and personal favourite. With glittering jazzy intricacies and a rhythm that invites you to dance, it showcases Witney’s ability to create music reminiscent of a distant era that still feels fresh and brand new. From the spirited acoustic guitar and lush bassline to the vintagey strings and sparkling piano, the mixing and production on the track create an atmosphere that hits all the right notes. Of all the songs on the EP, it is the one that most clearly highlights her varied influences - from Julie London and Roberta Flack to Labi Siffre and Candi Stanton to name just a couple. Many of the lyrics come from her aunt, someone who was a consistent cheerleader for Witney. So much of ‘From Now On’ is taken from her promise she made to her aunt before she passed and this track simply is the bow that ties together a gift of thanks and love.
As far as introductions go, ‘From Now On’ is a really exciting one. It cements Madeleine’s status as a master storyteller and is a real treat for those of us who are in love with the past and all its nostalgic melancholy. She has hinted that an album is in the works for release next year and should this be considered its trailer, we are in for something truly special. Her torch singing is perfect as we head towards winter, giving us a reason to bring back yearning and lamenting on the places that made us.
Words by Kirsty Ann-Thomson
