Making a welcome return to the quirky pop stylings of her breakthrough period as Marina and the Diamonds, Marina Diamandis strikes a balance between that era's wit and energy and the introspective balladry of her later work on her fifth set, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land. Though not as sprawling as 2019's double album Love + Fear, Ancient Dreams takes a similar approach by thematically splitting itself in two, dividing pain between existential crises and internalized heartbreak. For fans of her earlier LPs, the electrified half of this effort is a nostalgic delight, immediately reviving the trademark vocal cadence and lyricism of Family Jewels and Electra Heart on the opening title track, a pulsing standout that sounds like Muse's "Uprising" colliding with Britney Spears' "Womanizer." As galvanizing as the former track, "Ancient Dreams" finds Marina reclaiming her fire, transforming into the "eye of the storm" and declaring that we "are not here to conform." The sentiment extends to rousing anthems like the pounding "Purge the Poison" -- a fierce rallying cry to fellow "witches" that targets a litany of societal ills through frantic handclaps and pop-polished riffs -- and "Venus Fly Trap," which finds Marina riding an elastic Duran Duran-esque bassline as she empowers listeners to go on the offensive by becoming the titular carnivorous plant. Though more subdued, "Man's World" sticks to the script, lamenting the destruction of the world by the patriarchy through gorgeous, contemplative production that sparkles through tears. Later, she calls out a broken empire on the bittersweet, synth-washed reckoning of "New America." The urgency and catchiness of these highlights threaten to overshadow the quieter half of Ancient Dreams, which follows Marina through heartache territory on the tender "Pandora's Box," "Flowers," and "Goodbye," piano-backed moments of vulnerability that echo major influence Kate Bush. Despite the melancholy, she shines in these intimate, ethereal breaks, comforting the soul just as the hyper anthems inspire movement and action. At a brisk ten tracks, Ancient Dreams is a quick dose of what makes Marina great: heartfelt honesty from a fellow misfit consistently pushing the boundaries of pop. ~ Neil Z. Yeung