Search - Charlotte Martin :: Stromata

Wow.

Paul Austin Ardoin | Sacramento area, CA USA | 09/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charlotte Martin apparently spent a long time in the studio for this album. Sometimes, so much studio time can make an album devoid of emotion. While this album has a lot more electronic sounds and sound effects than previous releases, the emotion is cranked up even higher than her major-label album, On Your Shore.



Comparisons with Tori Amos are unavoidable for Martin, simply because she has piano-based rock with vocals and lyrics that reveal powerful, raw, and scary emotions. However, where Amos has a reputation for alienating listeners with confusing lyrics, absent melodies, and seemingly directionless piano noodling, Martin's song have strong hooks and stronger rhythms. While Amos experimented with electronic sounds (most notably on "From the Choirgirl Hotel"), Martin's experimentation is more akin to the unusual music palette of Björk (and Martin has a voice that is much more accessible). Nothing against Amos or Björk--they're two of my favorite artists--but Stromata is a more complete, more emotionally powerful album than just about anything I've ever heard.



Some listeners might be put off by some of the electronic percussion that sound like ProTools presets, but the electronics are used to maximum effect here. The first two tracks ("Stromata" and "Cut the Cord") are dark and driving--excellent driving music, and it's easy to get lost in the dark emotions in these tracks. The hooks are often not obvious, but the songs leave you wanting to listen to them again--I fully expect that this album will continue to get better with each listen. Other songs, such as "Little Universe" and "Pills" are more experimental--it may take repeated listenings to get used to them. "The Dance" is another outstanding track, reminding some of a good experimental David Byrne song. The tracks "Redeemed" and "A Hopeless Attempt", in a lesser musician's hands, might drag. With Martin's instrumentation--the electric piano on "A Hopeless Attempt", the bongos and church organ (!) on "Redeemed"--and emotional vocal delivery, however, these are two of the strongest songs on the album.



On Your Shore was a powerful, moving album, and one of my favorite releases of the last decade. I find it hard to believe, but Martin has surpassed On Your Shore with Stromata. Do yourself a favor: buy this album and spend a few hours with it."

Very good CD by an amazing artist

Peter | 06/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Charlotte Martin's second record, "Stromata" is much different from "On Your Shore," but just as good. Charlotte continues her foray into the electronic world which she began on her first EP "Test Drive Songs" back in 2002.



The album begins with "Stromata", the most powerful song on the album, with mysterious lyrics and harsh, thrashing vocals.



"Cut the Cord" smashes in with resonant tribal drum beats and a crazy rocking sensibility.



"Drip" follows with flowing keyboard/piano work and tounge-twister lyrics.



"Little Universe" is the most experimental song on the album, and she definitely gets her Bjork on here. Listen to this song with headphones. It's a sonic and epic journey.



"Civilized" is rocking with fast piano work reminiscent of Fiona Apple and Ben Folds. You get to hear angry Charlotte in this song too: "Why can't we keep this civilized? / Why can't the girl just shut her mouth?"



"A Hopeless Attempt" is a lullabye-like song that will bring the well-versed fan back to "Bones," the second track from her 2005 EP "Veins."



"Four Walls" is the most accessible song on the album, with a catchy chorus and dance-inducing beats.



"Inch" is a piano ballad that she's played live many times before finally releasing it, and it's as good as it always was. I could do without the dream-like guitar in the background though.



"Keep Me In Your Pocket" is a fun, clap-along song with a great chorus.



The album takes a bit of a downhill slip at this point, which is why I give the album 4 stars. "Pills" is a cute, playful song with lyrics like "Pills that make the boys a little frisky / Pills the help the girls fight PMS". Kind of a throw back to the live, loosen-the-crowd-up songs like "I'm Normal, Please Date Me" and "Uncomfortable Things." But it probably would have been better suited as a b-side, because it kind of interrupts the flow of the album.



"Just Before Dawn" shows off her classically trained opera skills. Impressive, but I find myself skipping it most of the time.



"Cardboard Ladders" is a thought-provoking song whose lyrics are the most important element, but aside from the beautiful bridge, musically this song is a little boring.



Charlotte brings it back with "The Dance," which is THE song of the album, and most Charlotte Martin fans will agree with me, with echoeing drums and soaring vocals.



"Redeemed" is another live-favorite that finally got a studio version, and is a great note to end the album on.



All in all, this is a wonderful album. Buy it. For the record though, while I love and am very impressed with Charlotte as an experimental artist and producer, I hope the third album has a little bit more acoustic piano songs, because that's what made me fall in love with her on "On Your Shore.""

Maybe you should stay below the waist

incubus1 | 11/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charlotte Martin snuck her way into my recommendations quite a while ago but I dismissed her with no remorse. However when she popped up again and I recognized the name I figured I'd check into it. I didn't listen to anything but the reviews for Stromata spoke volumes. Any artist with fans this passionate about a CD surely deserves my, and everyone else's attention. I was ready to be disappointed on my first listen but as the first song, Stromata, faded out I was awe-struck. Charlotte's voice is both powerful and vulnerable and the music is complex at points yet is so utterly simple other times. There's a balance throughout the entire running time that is unprecendented anymore and for that reason, Stromata deserves no less than a five star rating.



Charlotte Martin has one of the best voices I've heard in the past year, simply put. There's times where she sounds like nothing more than a 14 year old singing and then there's other times where she absolutely commands your attention. The music ranges from Tori Amos-esque piano melodies to light industrial at times. Stromata is one of those CDs that each time you hear it you find another song you might not have realized is so great the time before so it definitely begs repeated listens.



Charlotte is a hard cookie to corner. At times her music sounds like regular pop music (Drip, Cardboard Ladders) but other times she just flat out blows you away (Stromata, Little Universe, Civilized). One thing that is steady through the entire record is her amazing lyrical abilities. If you were to stop and only listen to the lyrics your jaw would undoubtedly hit the floor. As I said before though, her vocals are gorgeous as well, seen wonderfully in songs like Little Universe, Inch, and especially in the goosebump-inducing Just Before Dawn. Charlotte never overpowers the music itself though, which is a good thing. She has the ability to amaze, sure, but it seems that she'd rather give you a complete record full of catchy melodies and lush piano to accompany her voice instead of beating you over the head.



My favorite songs are Stromata, Little Universe, Civilized, Inch, and Cardboard Ladders. Few CDs make me as giddy as this one has and I truly look forward to hearing everything Charlotte has to offer. If past releases are better than this, however, I'm not entirely sure if I'm fully ready. As for Stromata though, extremely highly recommended."