Writing of Blues and Yellows
| Writing of Blues and Yellows | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 September 2016 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 53:09 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Billie Marten chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Writing of Blues and Yellows | ||||
| ||||
Writing of Blues and Yellows is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Billie Marten. It was released on 23 September 2016 by Chess Club and RCA records.
Background
Marten recorded "Writing of Blues and Yellows" while she was still a student at school, and opted to stay and finish her education. Marten later said of the album: "It was constant travel, and I didn't know what was happening at all. I didn't know the process of an album really, so that was a new experience. The first album was pure retrospect, which is funny because I'd barely done anything in life."[1]
Critical reception
The album was met with positive critical acclaim upon its release. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, the album received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from eight critic scores.[2]
Lois Browne of Clash Music rated the album a 7 out of 10, saying Marten's "vocals are infused with a fragility that drills down into your consciousness, whether you want it to or not."[3]
No Ripcord also rated the album a 7 out of 10, saying "It is essentially indie-folk by numbers, with a nervy wistfulness and soft-hued canvas, but its aching beauty prevents the record from stifling a listener with its persistent translucence."[4]
The Guardian rated the album a 6 out of 10, stating: "Writing of Blues and Yellows, although musically miles above the average tremulous, John Lewis-y singer-songwriter sort, has the limited palette of juvenilia; no humour, little anger, just delicate, pastel wistfulness".[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "La Lune" | Billie Marten, Jason Odle | 3:07 |
| 2. | "Bird" | Marten, Olivia Broadfield | 3:40 |
| 3. | "Lionhearted" | Marten, Fiona Bevan | 4:30 |
| 4. | "Emily" | Marten | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Milk & Honey" | Marten, Bevan | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Green" | Marten | 2:49 |
| 7. | "Heavy Weather" | Marten, Bevan | 4:12 |
| 8. | "Unaware" | Marten | 3:28 |
| 9. | "Hello Sunshine" | Marten | 4:58 |
| 10. | "Live" | Marten, Bevan | 4:03 |
| 11. | "Teeth" | Marten | 5:21 |
| 12. | "Untitled" | Marten, Justin Parker | 6:11 |
| 13. | "It's a Fine Day" | Edward Barton | 2:40 |
| Total length: | 53:09 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Green - Demo" | Marten | 2:48 |
| 2. | "La Lune - BBC Live Version (Lauren Laverne Session)" | Marten, Odle | 3:08 |
| 3. | "Out of the Black" | Mike Kerr, Ben Thatcher | 3:59 |
| 4. | "Hand over Head - demo" | Marten, Odle | 4:18 |
| 5. | "Milk & Honey - Alt Version" | Marten, Bevan | 4:48 |
| Total length: | 72:10 | ||
Notes
- "It's a Fine Day" is a cover of the song by Opus III, written by Edward Barton.
- "Out of the Black" is a cover of the song by Royal Blood, written by members Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher.
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]
- Billie Marten - vocals (all tracks), guitar (1, 4-10, 12, 14-16), electric guitar (17-18), composition (1-12, 14-15, 17-18), percussion (3-4, 10), piano (3, 6, 8-9, 11-12)
- Rich Cooper - production (1-5, 8-10), drums (1, 3-5, 8, 10), keyboard (1), percussion (1, 3-5, 8-10), bass guitar (9)
- Jason Odle - writing (1, 15, 17), keyboard (15), bass guitar,(17), acoustic guitar (18), percussion (17-18)
- Alex Eichenberger - cello (2,4, 9-10, 15), guitar (3), piano (3, 10), backing vocals (15)
- Fred Cox - guitar (2), piano (2)
- Olivia Broadfield - writing (2)
- Fiona Bevan - writing (3, 5, 7, 10, 18)
- Cam Blackwood - keyboard (7), production (8-9, 12), bass (6, 12), guitar (6-7, 12), percussion (6), piano (12), synthesizer (6-7, 12)
- Justin Parker - writing (12)
- George Ezra - guitar (12)
References
- ^ Loftin, Steven. "Human Nature". Line of best fit. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Writing of Blues and Yellows - Billie Marten". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ Browne, Lois. "Billie Marten – Writing Of Blues And Yellows". Clash Music. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Writing of Blues and Yellows - Billie Marten". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ Mackay, Emily. "Billie Marten: Writing of Blues and Yellows review – muted wistfulness". The. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Writing of Blues and Yellows - Billie Marten". Tidal. Retrieved 1 February 2026.