12. Mariam The Believer
art pop/experimental/soul http://youtu.be/rPUoys1TzgI The Mariam we find believing here is Swedish singer and songwriter Mariam Wallentin who you can normally find acting as one half of Wildbirds & Peacedrums (who you should also definitely give a listen) with her husband Andreas Werliin. Mariam The Believer is the solo project that Mariam has been running alongside Wildbirds & Peacedrums since 2011, and last year saw her release her debut album. A debut album, might I add, that was one of last year's most stunning albums. It's almost hard to pinpoint exactly why because there are so many levels to it, which, I guess, is exactly why. Whether it's Mariam's sublime vocals not just in range or tone but in performance as well or the musical talent on display with the songs' compositions and arrangements or the adventurous sense of experimentation; particularly present in the album's instrumentation. The album as a whole is a gorgeous auditory experience for numerous individual reasons and the numerous combinations of those individual reasons. Something that is perhaps best captured in the song Invisible Giving that changes tact on a number of occasions throughout it's near 8 minute length; managing to capture quirky tension, and haunting atmosphere, whilst possessing a deft sense of melody that's passionate but catchy.