This album has a wide variety of mood music, based loosely on the theme of states – both states of mind and the United States of America where Martina has been living and is now leaving.
The Swiss-born singer has composed seven tracks ranging from wild, staccato tracks like Full Circle, complete with a rapper, to gentle pastoral music like Unfold where Naseen Alatrash’s smooth cello lines and Lubarsky’s piano are heard. She sings on each piece, sometimes a straightahead vocal, sometimes with an overdubbed wordless refrain in the upper register.
Come On Home begins with an extended bass drone behind Jason Palmer’s soft-focus flugel lines. The lonesome vocal here is sad and reflective. Alpha Bird, by contrast, is quite frantic, with some wild vocal and rhythm, so much so you feel the track ought to go into therapy to lessen the tension.
Martina has a strong, flexible voice and she uses it to good effect on these contrasting songs. Rejonen’s jazz guitar is effective on Alpha. The Circus is an atmospheric tune which effectively conjures up the sound of a big top and all the fun of the circus. Soso features voice and accordion. Dreams begins with a rock beat, has a pop vocal and ends with a rap: “Life changes and so does the American dream.” You’ll need to absorb a number of different musical styles for this one. And indeed, for much of this programme.
A word of caution, if you want to read the notes and personnel on the back cover, red letters on a blue background, you’ll need X-ray eyes or a giant magnifying glass or both. It isn’t easy.
Discography
Full Circle; Come On Home; Alpha Bird; The Circus; Soso; Dreams; Unfold (47.10)
Martina (v); Vancil Cooper (d); Kyle Miles (b, elb); Jussi Rejonen (g, elg); Maxim Lubarsky (p, kyb); Ben Rosenblum (acn); Jason Palmer (t, flh); Khrys Williams (v); Nassem Alatrash (clo) New Jersey, USA, no dates given.
gabrielamartina.com
