Customer Reviews

Blue God

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every song on here is a classic. She has the most beautiful voice and an original unpretentious style that is instantly recognizable. The lyrics, the music, everything... either she or the people around her are ingenious. I can't imagine anyone purchasing this album and not liking it. I wish she were more renowned in the US, but then again she's my little secret. I play her and whoever listening is like, "who is that?"... yeah maybe she shouldn't distribute over here after all. Keep it up Martina, I love you.

UK songstress Martina Topley Bird is better known as the voice on loads of songs on UK Trip Hop artist Tricky's debut "Maxinquaye". Her 2003 solo debut "Quixotic" earned her a Mercury music prize nomination.

She returns on her sophomore disc with wunderkind Danger Mouse twiddling the production knobs, and the result is dreamy psychedelic Pop/Soul, with live-sounding percussion and a dense sound.

Her light airy vocals (she reminds me of Skye of Morcheeba) fleet playfully on opening cut, the dreamy lightly throbbing "Phoenix" (which references the album title). "Carnies" is upbeat Pop (with haunting harmonies), while the creepy but upbeat "April grove" sounds like the soundtrack to some sinister movie.

In fact, there is a dark, creepy vibe throughout the album, even on its more upbeat moments. Continuing along those lines is the swirling "Something to say" (with a Dub/Folk feel). "Baby blue" is a twinkly bouncy catchy number, while "Shangri la" is a sultry ballad with chopping guitars and a Blues-ey vibe.

Every song is a standout really, from "Snowman" (a charming midtempo guitar driven song), the psychedelic ballad "Da da da da", the swinging "Valentine", the swirling ballad "Poison" (with disembodied sounding vocals), the bouncy ethereal semi instrumental "Razor tongue" (comprising just la la la aah vocals), and the distorted mind bending sounding closing cut "Yesterday" (with a light Dub feel).

Edgy and experimental, an excellent CD. If you like Tricky, Gorillaz, Portishead, or even Goldfrapp's latest CDs, this might just be up your alley.

Perfectly crafted pop with soul, jazz and lounge woven throughout and production assistance from Danger Mouse. This amazing record should permanently break her out of the shadow of former collaborator Tricky.

and worth the price (even though it's under 40 minutes) for Danger Mouse's production - he seems to excel in albums under 40 minutes and this one is no exception. The first track catches you and goes on - you keep wanting more (and quite possibly will hit 'repeat' after it finishes off). I got this one the same day as the new Tricky album and felt a little guilty (and worried for Tricky) about liking this one so much more. Fortunately, Tricky's new album is really diverse while this one is just a really good album with a million and one sonic easter eggs that show up after repeated listenings...

The ONLY caveat is that it's short and, if you pay more than $20 for it, you could feel a little cheated. Try to find it under $20 and you won't feel shortchanged.

Martina Topley Bird does not fit into one category of music. Broadly speaking she is "Eclectic Electronica", but fans of Jazz, Soul, Alternative and Hip Hop would all be advised to check this very strong album, and her first "Quixotic" too.
She has a clear yet soulful subtle voice, with good phrasing and a dreamy tinge to it.
The beats are catchy, varied and original.
I heavily recommend that, if you are at all interested in top class and vibrant music, you buy this album.

Martina blew me away with this fantastic sophomore album that i believe will one day be considered one of the defining albums of the decade. There is so much originality and breathtaking new beats to this album it reminds me of the first time I heard her debut album with Tricky and the debut album of Portishead. The album is listenable all the way through almost like a concept piece that will never die out and will never leave your cd player. Listening to this music sets a mood unlike any other and is more relaxing and less somber than the traditional trip hop albums that i described before. I truly believe that trip hop is a dying term and will be replaced soon with a new name that leans more towards bluesy, uptempo melodic beats with a little room for pop but with stronger base and percussion. This album is special because you feel like you're listening to a brand new sound that no one's heard of before. The melodic blend of experimental backbeats are brilliantly arranged and mixed with utter perfection. "Carnies" is a brilliantly crafted song unlike any other that separates her sound from any artist that has come before her. The intro track is also breathtaking as well as the catchy and irresistable hit songs "Baby Blue" and "Poison". Her voice is the best i have ever heard her sing and i believe she is a huge reason for Tricky's success during his early days of trip hop. She has truly come into her own and established herself as an ethereal beauty and blues goddess with her own sound and vision. This fresh new sound is just what contemporary music needs in a time that desperately lacks originality and creativity. Martina's best album by far. A Truly moving, inspiring and powerful new album.

The Blue God both builds on and departs from Martina's debut Quixotic. It builds on her first release because again you'll find Martina's beautiful, haunting melodies. It departs from her first album in the sense that the production seems more dense than her debut. The production by Danger Mouse sometimes seems to put Martina's vocals in the midst of, or even behind, the dense sonic layers that he creates. During those moments Martina's strongest asset, her exquisite vulnerable voice, retreats to the background of the song. But this is my only (and very minor) grievance: the overwhelming majority songs on the Blue God are strong and showcase Martina's unique vocals. The album is worth the price for "Valentine" alone (check it on YouTube). In sum, a very underrated album with many great songs. Note to Independiente: pls do a limited release on vinyl.