With the release of “Like An Angel”, Marsha Swanson reaffirms her place as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary progressive pop—an artist who not only writes from the soul, but with it. Unveiled as a celebration of the one-year anniversary of her critically acclaimed album Near Life Experience, this track is not just a commemorative gesture. It is a transcendental evolution of a once-hidden gem, now revealed in full light, breathing with emotion, gravitas, and shimmering sonic beauty.
Originally a ghost track—an unnamed, almost whispered farewell that lived quietly at the edge of Near Life Experience—“Like An Angel” has now been given a vibrant rebirth. Re-recorded with a full live band and enriched by a lush string arrangement, the song emerges from the shadows of its former existence with purpose and poise, elevated by production that enhances rather than overwhelms its haunting intimacy. It is, without question, one of Swanson’s most personal and profound offerings to date.
From the first gentle swell of warm piano chords and the glisten of clean guitar tones, the listener is immediately invited into a contemplative space—a sanctuary where emotion is not only allowed but revered. There is something intrinsically spiritual about this track, a serenity that seems to hover, weightless, between worlds. That tone is beautifully captured by director Sam Chegini, whose award-winning animation once again proves a perfect match for Swanson’s introspective and poetic worldview.
Lyrically, “Like An Angel” is a masterclass in nuance and emotional intelligence. Where many artists might lean into melodrama when tackling themes of mortality and remembrance, Swanson chooses reverence. Her words are not elegiac, but illuminating. She offers no tidy resolutions, only acceptance—and in that, a kind of peace.
The opening lines—“You say that living, is a risky game we play / But you see the beauty, embrace it every day”—immediately set the tone. This is a song about a person who saw life clearly and without fear, someone whose presence was a quiet, radiant force in the narrator’s world. By portraying this person as someone who neither flinches from uncertainty nor scrambles for control, Swanson paints a picture of spiritual strength that contrasts powerfully with modern anxieties.
The refrain—“Oh, your light glows, like an Angel / Who comes and goes”—repeats like a mantra, not in despair but in devotion. The figure at the heart of the song is ephemeral, perhaps departed, but their essence is unmistakably present. In each verse and chorus, Swanson traces their philosophy—valuing adaptability, perceiving survival as an art—and mirrors it in her own gentle surrender to the unknown.
As the bridge unfolds—“And now, I’m ready to receive this / As the great unknown sweeps over me”—there is a turning point. This is where the song moves from remembrance to transformation. It’s not merely an ode to someone lost, but a moment of quiet awakening. The narrator, carried by memory, learns to accept what cannot be controlled, to feel without rushing to fix, to love without demanding permanence. It is grief alchemized into grace.
And then, almost imperceptibly, the song ascends. The whispered chant of “I love you” repeats at the end, not as a cry into the void but as a communion. It is as if the act of saying it summons the presence of the beloved once more—like a prayer that doesn’t seek an answer but offers connection.
This emotional architecture is supported by a team of musicians who understand restraint, atmosphere, and texture. Produced by the seasoned Henry (King Thumb) Thomas, whose credits include Randy Crawford and Paul Weller, the track unfolds with an organic patience that honors the song’s themes. Martyn Barker’s subtle percussion gently steers the rhythm, while Tony Qunta’s guitar work shimmers like light on water. Anders Olinder’s keyboards provide a soft, harmonic foundation that enhances rather than distracts from Swanson’s crystalline vocals.
Echo Zoo Studios in Eastbourne serves once again as the sonic birthplace of this music, a setting that clearly understands how to preserve the warmth of analog instrumentation while maintaining modern clarity. The live band’s presence is palpable—you can feel the breath between phrases, the intentionality of each note—and it all culminates in a soundscape that is simultaneously cinematic and close enough to whisper.
It’s fitting that “Like An Angel” would emerge to commemorate the continued success of Near Life Experience, an album that itself is built on themes of introspection, resilience, and emotional evolution. The ghost track had already stirred listeners, prompting messages and speculation from fans about its mysterious presence. Now, in full bloom, it feels like a completion—a missing piece returned to its rightful place.
This release also marks Swanson’s fifth creative partnership with Sam Chegini, whose visual interpretations bring further emotional depth to her work. Their synergy—her soul-searching lyrics and his vivid, interpretive animations—transforms the song from a private memory into a shared visual and auditory experience.
Moreover, “Like An Angel” has already achieved early recognition as a semi-finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest, standing proudly alongside three other tracks from Near Life Experience. It’s yet another accolade in a career already decorated with honors such as Best Folk Artist and Best Album at the Glasswerk New Music Awards.
For fans of ethereal yet grounded storytelling—those who revere the emotional poetry of Kate Bush, the introspective boldness of Tori Amos, or the cinematic honesty of Joni Mitchell—Marsha Swanson is an artist to cherish. “Like An Angel” encapsulates everything that defines her artistry: clarity without cliché, tenderness without sentimentality, beauty without artifice.
This is not music for the background. It is music to feel. To reflect by. To mourn with, and to heal through. “Like An Angel” is a spiritual companion for those navigating love, loss, and the light that never leaves us.
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