Label: Honest Jons
Genre: Alt-Pop / Electro FolkMusic: 3.5
Format Reviewed:CD
Call me a tight-arse but I can't comprehend a 36 minute album being released in today's day and age. Sure, maybe if it's on vinyl only I can understand the physical constraints, but "Some Place Simple" is only available on CD, in spite of being released by the vinyl-friendly Honest Jon's records. Full price for a 36 minute album - it had better be good. But I digress already.
"Some Place Simple" is Martina Topley Bird's 3rd full release and the first I've listened to. Apparently, a number of the songs are reworkings from previous albums. This makes sense, as she was musically and romantically connected to Tricky (back in the day), who displays and similar work ethic and rather than write new lyrics, puts old words to new music. A little sticker on the front of the record (warning bells have gone off this time) also points us to Tricky's Maxinquaye, for which she provides all the female vocals. Further testimony to Tricky's laziness and probably poor boyfriend material - is the fact that Martina Topley Bird is given credit on the album simply as "Martine". It would seem that since then she's developed a complex and now goes by the more cumbersome Martina Topley Bird.
Honest Jon's certainly has done a better job at marketing the album, with the album being widely promoted (at least in Melbourne, Australia) It's strange that not many people have heard of her, especially since the little sticker on the cover also tells us she's performed with Massive Attack. Massive Attack have a extensive collection of female vocal tracks - Unfinished Sympathy, Protection and Teardrop just to name a few - so surely one would come to mind for Martina. After a while, I gave up and searched online - apparently she features in Massive Attack's latest album Heligoland - an album which I only listened to briefly before dismissing it as mediocre. Anyways, she features on the two tracks "Psyche" and "Babel".
 |
| Blue Lines: Shara Nelson |
 |
| Mezzanine: Elizabeth Fraser |
 |
| Protection: Tracey Thorn |
 |
| Heligoland: Martina Topley Bird |
 |
| 100th Window: Sinead O'Connor |
"Some Place Simple", aptly titled for the most part, features mostly stripped back accoustic pieces with varying levels of precussion from sparse to dancey, but mostly the former. The album opens with a sweet little track in which Martina accompanies herself with a ukulele, which more or less sets the tone for things to come.
I find it difficult to point out any highlights but also can't point out any glaring weaknesses - I guess it's hard to fail over 36 minutes. Actually that's unfair and also untrue, so I take it back. I'd describe this album as nice but that's the best I can do; It's warm, light and flows with the ease of a refreshing summer breeze. It's not terrible or mediocre but nor is there anything there to stir your soul - put it in, play, enjoy, forget.
No comments:
Post a Comment