Stella West – Ode to the Devil (Mother Mary)
By Libby Driscoll
Taken off her up-coming album ‘Little Black Book with my Poems in’, singer-songwriter Stella West releases the album’s first single, ‘Ode to the Devil (Mother Mary)’.
Stella West – Ode to the Devil (Mother Mary)
Conjuring a theatrical atmosphere, West’s ‘Ode to the Devil (Mother Mary)’ feels like a dramatic, tuneful monologue fit for a west-end stage. Harmonising with the intense performance, West explains the inspiration behind the lyrics; “a woman plead(s) with Mother Mary herself to ease her of her turmoil and eventually accept(s) that her horror is too abhorrent even for angels to see”. Gaining inspiration from Quentin Tarantino films and old westerns, the extravagant theme is certainly understandable.
Strict piano chords open the track whilst loose, old-school jazz-style percussion slowly creeps into play. Though the overall mix of the track is particularly quiet, West’s vocals still hold themselves well at the forefront of the music. The smoky tone to West’s vocals are certainly admirable, allowing her individual manner to be heard whilst still holding a high level of diction.
During the entirety of the six-minute-long track, the piano performs the same two chords pretty much throughout. The lack of touch-sensitivity on the keys and the absence of a warm level of sustain makes the instrument feel very solid, affecting its flow amongst the vocals. The extensive length of the track amongst a scarcity in varying sections too contribute to the theatrical monologue feel of the piece.
‘Ode to the Devil (Mother Mary)’ without a doubt is more ‘Broadway’ than airplay, as if it’s part of a production score as opposed to an individual composition. Though audibly not a directly ‘catchy’ track, it’s certainly a tasteful choice to diversify your playlists and an interesting dip into the alternative world of theatre.