Sea Salt And Sawdust
Self-Released, 2025
8/10
Listen to Sea Salt And Sawdust
The singer-songwriter Marian Mastrorilli doesn’t shy away from melodies and harmonies across these moody and playful folk songs.
The soft yet upbeat “Begin” is indeed at the beginning, where both folk and rock ideas welcome warm piano, and “Cardinal In The Snow” follows with cozy balladry, where pretty singing is met with precise acoustic guitar.
“Beach Musings” and “Patience” land in the middle. The former recruits violin and cello alongside the quick climate, while the latter showcases a romantic spirit via the poetic singing and emotive guitar.
Landing close to the end, “A Shore Thing (My Jersey Shore)” touches on indie-rock ideas in a fuller moment of timeless songwriting, and “Angels (Angel In Transition)” exits with a sublime dreaminess that’s touching and even flirts with alt-country nods.
Mastrorilli’s formula is very diverse and at different points might bring to mind R.E.M., Billie Eilish, The Decemberists or Ben Folds, where each song resonates with timelessness and grace.
Travels well with: Jenny Burtis- Woodbird; Amy Speace- The American Dream