TWO years since Marina Diamandis’s debut album The Family Jewels, all seemed a bit quiet until the single Radioactive was released late last year. While not on the regular edition of Electra Heart, the track paved the way from the debut’s indie sound to this album’s electro pop.

Marina, whose surname is Greek for diamonds, does a nice line in intelligent and witty lyrics. Electra Heart illustrate the woes of dysfunctional love and American culture with a lot of bite.

Current single Primadonna is perfect pop as is Homewrecker, then there is the dark sarcasm of Teen Idle with its cheerleader chants. Melodies and hooks are strong throughout on this sophomore collection and should lead the 26-year-old further into the public’s musical consciousness.

While Marina may be seen as a mainstream act these days, she has, in the past, been very vocal of her disappointment with the way her career was going. After shuttling back and forth between England and Greece as a child (her dad is Greek), Marina attended four universities in as many years before finally deciding on trying to realise her dream of becoming a singer.

Billed as the next big thing before her debut was released, The Family Jewels peaked at No 5 in the charts and sold more than 100,000 copies. Not bad, but for someone who dreams of world domination, disappointing.

Perhaps Electra Heart could be the turning point?