Making a welcome return to the studio after a five-year hiatus, Cardiff-born Martin Harley delivers an excellent set of laidback self-penned songs recorded at Manchester’s Airtight Studio.
In total Martin has released eight albums, four recorded in the UK and four in Texas and Nashville. His 2012 debut ‘Mojo Fix’ (recorded in Texas with guests Carlos Santana and Steve Winwood) helped to establish a fan base in the USA where the album received national radio airplay on non-commercial, alternative music stations.
Harley was the founder of a blues trio The Martin Harley Band who were noted for the inclusion of instruments such as the balalaika, double bass, lap steel and a unique and highly sought-after lap steel guitar – a Weissenborn manufactured in Los Angeles in the 1920s and 30s – only 5000 were made.
He also benefitted from six weeks spent travelling in 2007 through Guinea, Senegal and Mali, playing with local musicians, including Malian ‘desert blues’ singer and guitarist Vieux Farka Toure son of the legendary Ali Farka Toure.
On this set he is joined by Michael Blair on percussion, Mark Lewis on bass and Chris (CJ) Hillman on pedal steel. In a frank confession Martin says that the title track ‘Morning Sun’ “relates to the fact I’ve given up drinking in the past couple of years. That definitely affected the direction of the record. For many years I’ve used alcohol as an emotional regulator, therefore making a record completely sober had some terrifying moments”.
On ‘Lemonade’ another song referring to his new found alcohol free life the band is joined by Paddy Milner who plays some superb piano. He also uses a rubber bridge on his guitar which he was given by the sound engineer at Airtight which makes the guitar sound more muted notably on the introduction to ‘Lemonade’, ‘Shotgun And A Shovel’ features Martin playing his beloved Weissenborn – the track itself is reminiscent of Paul Simon’s mid 80’s ‘Graceland’ period. On the blues side are ‘Stranger In My Own Home’ and ‘Chop Your Own Wood’ (inspired by his work renovating his house). Both feature some fine slide and pedal steel while ‘Kite’ a song for his daughters.
Martin says that he wrote the ten tracker here by using voice notes on his phone, scribbling down lines and thinking of guitar melodies which stay in his head. His musical experience of playing in West Africa, with a touring blues band and an assortment of exotic instruments add up to a worthwhile album – definably worth checking out live too.
