Music has been a part of Mardi Gras since 2006. They are in Rome, have travelled extensively over the years and appear to take their time to get things right. The patience can be heard in the music. Their 4th album Sandcastle has a definite purpose behind it and this single is a natural and thoughtful one.
The song is a part of a larger story. One of the principal characters of the album, Cecilia, is left between life and death after a terrible accident. The track is very carefully contained within that grey zone of feeling. It does not make too much noise or drama about what's going on. It actually sounds quieter than that, and perhaps more disturbing, due to the controlled nature of the sounds.
Liina Rätsep’s vocals are really the centre of the song. Her voice is soft, distant, and at the same time very precise in its emotions. She is always emotionally charged, but never over doing it. The snare drum plays with a thoughtful rhythm, adding to the song's presence and movement, while Fabrizio Fontanelli's shimmering guitar lines move gently through the melody.
What I really like about the production is that it's very open and uncluttered. There is plenty of space for each instrument to breathe and settle into the arrangement naturally. The harmonies are more inclined towards sadness but not despair or hopelessness. I believe that the balance is just right for a song about someone who is trapped between two worlds and can't really fit into either one.
Sandcastle is about two brothers and sisters growing up in Jersey City who are struggling with violence, betrayal, and survival. This background adds a lot of emotional weight to the music throughout the album. It never feels like the story was added on the back after making it a concept record.
Mardi Gras have also performed with Glen Hansard and Billy Bragg, and even had songs chosen by Neil Young. This sort of respect is typically acquired over the course of years of hard work and experience. “Lia's Theme” is a good specimen of a band that's still very much in their element.
