JEFF MARTIN – THE GROUND CRIES OUT
Wherever you stand with the output of Tea Party chieftain Jeff Martin, with his multi-necked guitars and affinity for Eastern mysticism, one thing is for sure – the man has a singular voice. That guttoral bellow, part-operatic baritone and part stoner-rock, has careened through a palette of nearly 20 records with The Tea Party and in his own element. And thankfully it’s still intact – a little huskier on the edge, but rich and full. This being his third solo studio album to date, he’s accompanied by a new band featuring Malcom Clark and J. Cortez from The Sleepy Jackson. Present as always is Gothic tantra-rock element – Ground Cries Out and Queen of Spades – but there are also moments of a kind of 1970’s Californian tenderness – the rather tranquil Blue Mountain Sun and the erhu-led lullaby The Mekong. Sometimes the theatricality is a little rife (note: Jeff hisses like a snake during The Cobra), but there are a few moments where it touches upon great art – the gorgeous One Star In Sight, and 1916, which channels The Doors’ Love Her Madly in no small measure, are the highlights.
***
