Mardi Tickle’s “Glitter Revolution” EP is like finding a forgotten box of sparklers in the back of your mind, just when you thought all the fizz had gone flat. This Finland-based artist has brewed up something delightfully chaotic – a three-song burst that somehow manages to be both a heartfelt therapy session and a dance-floor riot. It’s a curious concoction, this disco-infused pop-rock, as if ABBA and Queen decided to throw a party with a philosophy professor and, inexplicably, a clown.

First up, “Circus Called Life,” spins a tale of self-discovery amid a delightfully messy metaphor. Life as a circus? It’s not just whimsical; it’s eerily accurate. All those precarious acts, the wild swings of emotion, the clowns who are sometimes…you. It’s that wobbly feeling you get standing on a carousel; you might fall off but the air smells sweet. This track throws a lifeline amidst the chaos, not a promise of smooth sailing, but a bright, neon compass point toward hope.

Then, we stumble into “Guilty Sinner,” which swings hard the other way into dark territory, confronting religious guilt and that ever-present fear of hellfire and brimstone. It feels strangely… necessary. It’s like Mardi is digging up the heavy, rusty bits we try to leave buried under layers of cheer. This one doesn’t let you escape the disquiet. This song might remind one of a renaissance portrait. All stern glances and dramatic shading, but the person stares directly at you daring you to look away. You probably shouldn’t look but it’s also hard to avoid.

But then, just as you’re about to settle into the gloom, bam! “Glitter Revolution” explodes onto the scene like a piñata at a funeral. Here, the EP’s theme blooms – find that inner sparkle and embrace the joyful chaos. There’s a rebellious energy bubbling under the surface of this one. It is not about raging against the machine, more about throwing confetti in its gears while giggling. Think less Che Guevara and more Lady Gaga at a bake sale. Is it self-acceptance, individual expression or just a good excuse to get sparkly and move? Probably all of the above, to be honest.

The thing is, Mardi Tickle isn’t handing out answers. She’s holding up a mirror and saying “look, this is a mess, but it’s our mess. And it’s glorious”. It’s not a coherent map, more of a scattering of stars. This EP is less a destination, and more like a wonderfully discombobulating kaleidoscope – look at it, enjoy the colours, but don’t expect it to ever be completely static.

Follow Mardi Tickle on Facebook, Bandcamp, YouTube and Instagram