Feeding Seahorses by Hand
| Feeding Seahorses by Hand | ||||
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| Released | 26 April 2019 | |||
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| Length | 47:15 | |||
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| Singles from Feeding Seahorses by Hand | ||||
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Feeding Seahorses by Hand is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Billie Marten, released on 26 April 2019 by Chess Club and RCA Records.
Background and recording
Marten started recording the album in April of 2018, with many of the songs coming from demos she had for "maybe a year". On her progression from her debut album, Writing of Blues and Yellows, Marten said: "the first time around, I’d never seen these things before, I didn’t know what these buttons meant – everyone was using a language I’d never heard. It wasn’t my world at all. This time around, it felt a lot more natural."[1]
On her idea for the album, Marten stated: "I wanted it to be a bit less serious, a little bit less tainted with this whole idea of being an acoustic, folky singer-songwriter who is only ever seen in a dark, rainy setting, you know what I mean, I didn’t feel like that. It feels a lot more sunny." Marten took inspiration for the album from Car Seat Headrest. Talk Talk, Simon and Garfunkel, and Elliott Smith. [1]
Critical reception
The album was met with positive critical acclaim upon its release.
The Line of Best Fit gave the album a rating of 80 out of 100, saying: "There are few things more refreshing than to hear a young artist take their time on their second album, and come back with a new project that feels developed, not rushed."[2]
Dork gave the album 60 out of 100, saying: "the record demonstrates assured musicianship, the soft vocals borne along by gentle drums and slick bass guitar. Reaching out wider than before for music and lyrics, Billie Marten is standing on solid ground."[3]
Track listing
All songs written by Billie Marten, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cartoon People" (written by Marten and John Congleton) | 3:33 |
| 2. | "Mice" | 4:04 |
| 3. | "Betsy" (written by Marten and Rich Cooper) | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Blood Is Blue" | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Blue Sea, Red Sea" | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Vanilla Baby" | 4:15 |
| 7. | "Toulouse" | 4:06 |
| 8. | "She Dances" | 4:43 |
| 9. | "Bad Apple" | 4:30 |
| 10. | "Boxes" (written by Marten and Jolyon Thomas) | 5:11 |
| 11. | "Anda" | 3:43 |
| 12. | "Fish" | 2:26 |
| Total length: | 47:15 | |
Personnel
- Billie Marten - vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 2-12), synth (11), piano (11), marimba (10), musical box (7-8, 11)
- Ethan Johns - bass (5-11), guitar (10), drums (2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), drum machine (10), drum machine [DFAM] (4, 7, 9, 11), keyboard (2, 3-5, 7, 9-11), mellotron (6), omnichord (9), synth (10), percussion (4-6, 8, 10), production
- Ben Burrows - bass (2)
- Rich Cooper - bass (3), mixing (2-3), production (2-3)
- Dominic Monks - engineering (1-4, 12)
- Bob Ludwig - mastering, mixing (1, 4-12)
References
- ^ a b Bates, Scott. "Yorkshire-born Prodigy Billie Marten On Feeding Seahorses By Hand". Wonderland Magazine. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ Chapman, Tom. "Billie Marten follows up her superb debut in effortless style". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ Eastoe, Dillon. "Billie Marten – Feeding Seahorses By Hand". Dork. Retrieved 14 August 2025.