Marina - Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land

Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land finds Marina at her most direct, a glossy pop record with a sharp political edge.

Her fifth studio album, and the second released under the mononym, arrived in 2021 after writing sessions that started at her West Hollywood home and carried on through the pandemic. She wrote every song herself and shared production with Jennifer Decilveo and James Flannigan, and the lyrics take aim at misogyny, racism and a warming planet, with a few bruised break-up songs folded in. Part of the spark came from the Salem witch trials and the long history of women punished for stepping out of line.

"Man's World" is the centerpiece, a stately, sarcastic anthem about who gets to hold power and who pays the price. "Venus Fly Trap" bounces along with playful self-confidence, and "Purge the Poison" is a full-tilt dance-pop rush packed with grievances, while "Highly Emotional People" slows the tempo for something more vulnerable.

Across ten tracks, Marina balances big hooks with pointed lyrics, keeping the electropop sheen without ever letting it smooth over the message.

For fans who have followed her since the Diamonds days, it is a confident, grown-up chapter and a satisfying listen from start to finish.