Reviews roundup – Martina Edoff vs. ST 37 vs. My Education / Naught Sound Mass vs. Evilence vs. Tini
MARTINA EDOFF
Martina Edoff
MRM
I’m an old man these days. But when I manage to prise myself out of my rocking chair to throw some shapes, then it’s eighties hard rock that stirs my loins. So how happy am I to be listening to this CD? That’s right. That happy.
Apparently, Ms Edoff is a well known session and backing vocalist in Sweden, who has appeared on many a big Swedish dance pop hit, but away from that she also did time in a Heart tribute band. And that’s where this CD has it’s, um, heart.
And it’s great, the kind of thing that would have sat happily alongside Robin Beck in the radio schedules back in the day. It’s telling that the only cover version amongst some cracking originals is a version of the Mr. Big son ‘Just Take My Heart’. My only criticism, and it’ barely counts as a criticism, is that I would have liked a couple more rockers. But records ths good are few and far between, so I’m just away for a lie down in a darkened room to listen to ‘On The Top’ and ‘Hero’, my two favourites for today. You should be hunting it down sharpish.
ST 37
I’m Not Good
Cleopatra
As an old Hawkwind fan, I can remember when ST 37 came ambling out of Austin, Texas back in the eighties.
Well they’re still doing their thing 25 Years On, and this could easily have come from anywhere in their catalogue as they turn in a sterling performance of jagged spacerock meets psychedelia.
“I’m Not Good” fails to live up to its title as the best on offer here are real crackers. That would include the opening ”Down On Us’, ‘Doppelganger’ and their, um, unique take on sixties floor filler ‘In Crowd’. Long term fans will certainly not be disappointed.
MY EDUCATION / NAUGHT SOUND MASS
Sound Mass II: Spiritual Docking
Cleopatra
New to me, but another My Education are psych outfit from Austin, Texas (who include ST 37 member Scott Telles) whilst Theta Naught hail from Salt Lake City.
As you may have gathered from the title, this is a sequel to an earlier collaboration and sees them veering away from spacerock into the netherlands inhabited by many a drone band. Which is normally something that sends me to sleep, but thankfully they hold onto enough prog and psych to make things a wee bit interesting.
The best moments are where they go a wee bit Krautrock in a manner that would make the Arch Druid Cope very happy. And they even find room to rock out a bit on my favourite moment here, ‘End Masse’. Not essential, but certainly worth investigating.
EVILENCE
Essence Of Life
independent
Time for some Swedish melodic thrash metal. Except it’s from Poland!
Evilence put up a pretty good show of doing In Flames on Stars In Your Eyes, and they certainly know how to riff like crazy. However, they are still in thrall to their influences, but this is their first album proper, so it’s not the end of the world.
And when they do bump into a good tune as they do on ‘Break The Silence’ and ‘ Phenomenon Of Organised Violent Conflict’, then you can’t help think that they might have a metal thrashing mad future.
TINI
Undo My Heart
Conehead
Finally for today, we’re going to relax with the début album from Norwegian pop princess, Tini.
And it certainly is pop, with an array of interesting collaborators including Cass Lowe, Jack Macmanus, Sacha Skarbek (Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’) and even our very own KT Tunstall. Even better, it’s a proper pop album, with the 10 tracks barely cracking the half hour mark. Thank you, Tini.
Musically, it’s all rather good, and there are three or four tracks here that have hit carved into them. ‘Window Shopping’ and ‘Running Out Of Reason’ should be monster, monster chart performers, if only they get the chance. To be fair, I’m not sure that her voice is strong enough to make it on its own, but when you look at the tone deaf wastrels currently getting to the top, it’s no handicap.
Certainly a name we should be hearing more from.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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