Marthology: In And Outtakes
Pop Guru, 2021
8/10
Listen to Marthology: In And Outtakes
A long running Canadian outfit whose inception aligned with the rising punk/New Wave/art-pop scene, this collection of tracks includes a dozen rare singles, B-sides and unreleased tracks from the duo of Mark Gane and Martha Johnson, i.e. Martha And The Muffins.
“On A Silent Summer Evening (Echo Beach Version)” starts the listen with plenty of atmosphere, as crisp drumming and hazy keys make for a dreamy opener with Johnson’s rich vocals front and center, and “Summer Of Song” follows with a calmer tone of warm cello and pretty, poetic vocals.
Towards the middle, “Don’t Monkey With My Love” recruits plenty of rhythm amid the dance friendly climate, while “Talking Through My Hat” rumbles with a quirky, playful appeal that sounds right at home in the ‘80s, and not just cause of its Reagan subject matter. “There Comes A Day”, one of the album’s best, then pairs an ethereal backdrop with some post-punk nods that give the song a bit of an ominous quality that’s still quite pretty.
Near to the end, “Delicate” is a percussively strong and vocally diverse selection from 2003, and “I Am Vertical!” exits the listen with thumping drums and Johnson’s flowing vocals populating the diverse pop landscape.
Martha And The Muffins released their debut back in 1980, and have produced a very well received 7 studio albums since then. The tracks here span 35 years and showcase a great sampling of their vast talent that’s ideal for the longtime fan and also the first time listener.
Travels well with: Japan- Quiet Life; Richard Hell And The Voidoids- Destiny Street Complete