The Brothers Martin

Description

The self-titled debut album by the American indie-pop duo The Brothers Martin, a band consisting of brothers Ronnie and Jason Martin (founders of Joy Electric and Starflyer 59, respectively), was released on Tooth & Nail Records in 2007. It is the brothers’ first collaborative effort since their two albums as the synthpop duo Dance House Children, released in 1991 and 1992 respectively. The Brothers Martin album features the musical fusion of indie pop and electronica and is somewhat of an amalgamation of both artists’ musical influences. The lyrics main communication is the man’s dissatisfaction with time and lack of control over life. Though pain and frustration permeate lyrics, hope and trust in one who knows better is the ultimate presiding theme of The Brothers Martin.

Musicians: Ronnie Martin (synthesizers, drum and bass programming, lead vocals), Jason Martin (guitars, lead Vocals, bass guitar), Alex Albert (drums).

Ronnie and Jason Martin have recorded 20 albums between them with their own individual identities – Joy Electric (Ronnie’s synth retro pop persona) and Starflyer 59 (Jason’s indie guitar pop group). This is their first full length album together since they split their original electronic/dance outfit, Dance House Children, in the early 1990s. It comes across like a tribute to the sounds of the 1980s, with OMD keyboard sounds (all over the place), New Order beats («The Harsh Effects Of Time»), the shuffle of China Crisis («Fears To Remember») and latter day Depeche Mode guitars for the heavier songs («Communication» and «The Missionary»). At times it feels like Ronnie’s keyboards are fighting for supremacy over Jason’s guitars. Strangely, however, there are similarities in the brothers’ writing. They both use words economically, which makes for interesting reading. Time and regret are both significant themes on this album, although sometimes the writing slips over into the obscure. With regard to music, both Ronnie and Jason write strong, quirky hook lines, which lift the songs out of some of the lyrical darkness. [John Hebden, Cross Rhythms, March 2007]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/brothers-martin/715988470)

CD tracklist:

01. Communication
02. The Harsh Effects of Time
03. The Missionary
04. The Deaf, They Will Hear
05. The Plot That Weaves
06. Fears to Remember
07. Opportunities
08. The Behaviour Explains
09. Get the Money
10. Life on Strings

Note: Released on both CD and 12-inch vinyl LP. (The album was released as a limited pressing of 500 copies on 180 gram 12-inch vinyl LP put out by ClerestoryAV on May 1, 2007, in co-operation with Tooth & Nail Records.)

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