Belle Scar - Atoms (2023) Hi-Res

Belle Scar is the new music project of multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, artist and producer Geeta. She is influenced by cinematographic moods and grooves, dark pop, art, rock' n roll, analogue vintage sounds, electronics, poetry, surrealism, sci-fi and dreams. Captivating and dramatic singer-songwriter Belle Scar releases her new album, Atoms, alongside performing an album launch show within the historic Hoxton Hall in London. As the album seeks to explore the meaning in life’s beauty and darkness, it proves to be a mesmerising tapestry of complex arrangements rich in cinematic orchestration and lush production which is guaranteed to stir the emotions deep within anyone’s soul.

As a distinctive singer-songwriter, producer and artistic director who originally came from Montreal, Belle Scar has clearly overcome many personal challenges on the long and winding road to where she is right now, firmly established with a base in London. With roots founded in the study of classical piano, her own personal battles with ADHD and dyslexia affected both this early musical teaching and her wider education leading her to seek other avenues to channel the talents which were yet to be fully visible to the outside world. It was then that an obsession for writing poetry and composing music took over which eventually led to Belle’s relocation to London.

Belle had already developed a powerful and distinctive vocal style which melded perfectly with her early leanings towards dark electronic pop songs fashioned on her keyboards. But it was clearly the attraction of the creativity, diversity and energy within the London scene that fostered a greater sense of ambition in her work and also provided her with the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a whole range of musicians, singers and artists who would help to shape her immediate future, none more so than musician and producer Marc Olivier.

It was through the collaboration with Marc that the songs within her new album Atoms emerged, presenting a very personal and passionate view on the personal challenges and journey Belle had been experiencing. As Belle explains, “I wrote ‘Atoms’ after my son was born, the aftermath of cancer in the family, life in the pandemic as well as acknowledging and accepting my continuing cognitive challenges. These songs are about my identity and trying to navigate the cycles of life, as well as my fascination with an awe of the universe, space and time in all its mysterious ways.”

With Belle making productive use out of the extra time and space that lockdown had provided to further develop this material, she also took the opportunity to reconnect with her classical roots as well as channelling all the various forms of music that had influenced her over the years, ranging from Debussy, through the Velvets, Doors, Leonard Cohen all the way back to Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. Wrap this up with her love for film scores and the added orchestration and production provided by Marc Olivier, what we end up in Atoms is a collection of songs full of emotional impact and dramatic interpretation as Belle lays bare her own personal feelings and struggles.

Where Do We Begin is an emotional and impassioned story about maintaining one’s sanity in the fearful uncertainty of the present day, something which will resonate with so many of us at the present time. As Belle sings in her powerful and uniquely soulful voice “I’m just a lonely soul, dreaming of a better place in time”, its overlaid with a compelling and evocative soundtrack which builds into bold and climactic choruses which have a dramatic intensity normally reserved for the likes of Nick Cave in full flow.

Trapped is embroiled in emotional turmoil as Belle declares that she is “trapped inside a story not my own, it feels like I’m inside someone else’s home.” It evokes a very dark and moody sense of claustrophobia and the intense emotional impact of Belle’s powerful and expansive vocal range combined with the spine-tingling cinematic orchestrations are something to behold. With a sense of resignation, title track Atoms follows as a more sombre and emotive take which is enhanced with huge sweeping strings and a majestic choral arrangement.

Burning Lamps has an eerie feel right from the off within a much starker arrangement dominated by Belle’s confident vocals, lush strings and almost transcendental backing vocals. I’ve Been Here Before is about the acknowledgement and acceptance of the ‘black dog’ of melancholy or depression which hangs over so many people. Starting with menacing opening chords, it’s another moody slow burner with sumptuous strings and angelic choral lines and I could not help myself thinking what a wonderful title song this would make for a James Bond movie.

Space very much has the spectre of Pink Floyd hanging over it as it gradually soars into the stratosphere, whilst Nobody Wins The War is a monasterial lament which recognises that “we all have a story to tell.” The Eeriness takes the production values onto another majestic level with its contrast from what sounds like a plucking harp, through sweeping strings and the tribal sounding drum beat.

Ice Storm is as dramatic and intense as the title suggests with its anthemic chorus lines, with We Stand following on as a rousing and epic moment of defiance as Belle declares “ we are all the same inside” alongside the military style drum patterns which drive the song forward. The album closes with a beautiful rendition of Mementos recorded live at St. Pancras Old Church just before lockdown.

There is little doubt in my mind that in Atoms, Belle Scar has produced an album which will stand up as a magnificent testament to the personal struggles that so many people face with its expansive arrangements, cinematic orchestrations and lush production conveying such an emotive narrative so perfectly. From beginning to end Atoms takes you through a mystical journey and emotional rollercoaster ride full of darkness, struggles, intrigue and drama all of which is instantly compelling and utterly spellbinding.