Marina Diamandis performs during her “Ancient Dreams” streamed performance on June 12, 2021. Courtesy Brendan Walter for Moment House.

On the heels of the release of her fifth studio album, Marina Diamandis (formally knows as Marina and the Diamonds, now known simply as MARINA) took to the desert for a streamed concert via Moment House. The “Ancient Dreams” performance took place in a windy and barren desertscape. Marina and her four-member backing band set up against desert hill country, each member outfitted in a distinct and bold color.

Diamandis took center stage donning a fiery orange flowing outfit, opening up with the title track from her most recent release, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land. The production for the performance was sparse and simple. Given the setting, the goal certainly wasn’t to faithfully recreate a typical concert experience, rather using the natural terrain and scenery to create unique and interesting visuals.

The set was heavy on new material. Marina followed the opener with “Venus Fly Trap” and the politically conscious “Purge the Poison.” The sun slowly set on the horizon throughout the course of the hourlong set, creating even more compelling visuals. Occasional standard definition camera shots would be mixed in with the more dramatic wide angle views. The first older track arrived in the form of “Froot,” the title track from the singer’s 2015 album.

Marina Diamandis performs during her “Ancient Dreams” streamed performance on June 12, 2021.

Diamandis took a moment to thank viewers as she sat at a piano to perform another new track, “Man’s World.” The band was tight and the audio mix slick throughout. The pace picked up slightly for the intensely dark balladry of “Highly Emotional People.” The stream was a strong reflection of Marina’s current style, fusing peppy and upbeat songs with biting lyrics.

Flanked by a string duo, Diamandis upped the pace on older cut “Blue.” The strings remained for the driving “New America,” another song digging into modern culture. She reached deep into the past for “I Am Not a Robot,” a track that dates back to Marina and the Diamonds’ 2010 debut album. Now donning a sharp, yellow and green coat, Diamandis continued efficiently through the set, returning to the piano for ballad “Pandora’s Box.”  The string players were particularly effective during the sparser ballads, adding a fresh intensity. Marina closed out the song by reaching up to her impressive upper register and falsetto.

With the sun now almost entirely hidden behind the hills, Diamandis remained at the piano for “To Be Human,” offering a quiet and somber intro before jumping up as the beat and remainder of the band kicked in to finish out the track. The song struck a common experience between those living in different parts of the world, facing similar hardships and the questions we all face.

Marina Diamandis performs during her “Ancient Dreams” streamed performance on June 12, 2021.

The pace upped substantially for the rock-influenced beats and riffs of “How to Be a Heartbreaker,” from Marina and the Diamonds’ 2012 album, Electra Heart. She followed that up with the bouncy “Bubblegum Bitch,” from the same album. The live stream will likely whet the appetite of the Welsh singer’s fans for the eventual opportunity to catch Marina on stage. A tour was announced on Friday.

Reaching near dusk, under a purple sky, Marina concluded with a pair of new tracks: “I Love You But I Love Me More” and “Goodbye.”

Full Setlist:

Ancient Dreams
Venus Fly Trap
Purge the Poison
Froot
Man’s World
Highly Emotional People
Blue
New America
I Am Not A Robot
Pandora’s Box
To Be Human
How To Be A Heartbreaker
Bubblegum Bitch
I Love You but I Love Me More
Goodbye

Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald.