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Elly Roberts reviews
679 Recordings
- Released: May 2006
- Rating: 8/10
London-based Aussie Martin Craftreleases his second album following his successful support slot with the MagicNumbers.
Occasionally compared to American dream-folkie Sufjan Stevens (found on abanjo lead I Got Nobody Waiting For Me) this melody-driven beauty isthe kind of ’60s folk gem that has re-surfaced. Theres no doubt that Craftis one of the finest songwriters of his generation.
Hes pretty useful with the instruments too, playing everything except drums.Theres a strikingly warm familiarity about the whole album, one you couldtake anywhere and it would be appreciated. Its as if you heard it allbefore, somewhere in the past, but it does have 21st century twists.A hippy title track with fluttering flute dancing in shadows is a wonderfulreminder of past-times, from the flower power era.
Bossa nova and Serge Gainsbourg seem to have strongly influenced track 8,Snowbird and track 2, Emily Snow a shifting lightweight delight,complete with ’60s sounding backups. Picking up the meticulous pace, thesingle You Are The Music, a meaty Fleetwood Mac baseline and Modjo(Lady Hear Me Tonight) riff gets the feet moving, as does a chunkyLucille.
Dragonfly, a floaty acoustic ballad, almost burst into flames, only topeter out on stumbling limp. A Fleetwood Mac-styled Soldier takes ustowards a delightful close, another acoustic wanderer Teardrop Tattoo.
Throughout, Crafts gentle hushed voice lacks any kind of distinctiveness,but is more than fitting for this retro-influenced revival.
Weblink:M.Craft.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Silver And Fire
2. Emily Snow
3. You Are The Music
4. I Got Nobody Waiting For me
5. Love Know How To Fight
6. Lucille (Where Did The Love Go?)
7. Dragonfly
8. Snowbird
9. Sweets
10. The Soldier
11. Teardrop Tattoo
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.