Contrary Mary

Release Notes:
Ripping slide guitar and a genre-sweep from classic rock to country blues-rock map the contours of the latest tough but slick album from the UK songwriter Eddie Martin.This album rocks with exciting grooves and hooks-aplenty, masterful slide guitar and harmonica playing. What raises the yardstick above a good-time party album – even though it works on that level if you like – is the songwriting, which combines lyrical depth and passion.

All 10 tracks are original and feature Martin’s trademark gritty emotive vocals and excellent musicianship all-round. It’s a must-buy party record for all generations….but there’s lyrical depth to ponder as well as grooves to move your feet to.

For more information visit www.eddiemartin.com

Press Reviews keep on coming........

"Another rocking CD from Eddie Martin. He covers a range of his own songs from the ZZ Top like title tune to Bo Diddley like Living for the weekend with quite a bit of acoustic and amplified harmonica too. He must be Britain's most prolific and original blues performer." HARMONICA WORLD

Eddie Martin's ninth release sees Bristol's finest on top form with a collection of songs drawing on influences as wide ranging as '60s Blues-rock and traditional Pakistani drumming. In Martin's own words, "I wanted the album to be a reflection of where I am now without squeezing myself into a genre, and it has come out as a mixture of classic rock, country rock, raga rock and Blues grooves and I'm very content with the results." And that sums it up pretty well, the diverse styles blending together seamlessly as a wrapper for songs that range from good-time rock through to Martin's observations about life's victims, fatherhood, greed and the dangers of sexual infatuation. This is not the same old formula; this is the continuing evolution of a Bluesman who embraces the sounds that inspire him. Standout track is 'Watching The Weather', which combines bhangra beats, heavy echo on the harmonica, and sitar like guitar tunings, and yet is unmistakably rooted in the Blues. Other highlights are a big raffling remake of 'Something About You Baby (I Like)', originally on the acoustic debut "Solo In Soho"; 'Ingolstadt', a national steel driven tale of tour bus unreliability that should grace a road trip film soundtrack; and 'Better The Devil You Know', which hits a cool and hypnotic North Mississippi groove. And the rest of the album rocks. Not clichéd Blues-rock played at 100mph, but catchy, mature, lyrically clever rock songs that remain Bluesy, would not be out of place on a 'grown up' radio station, and which with luck could well see Martin breakthrough to a wider audience. Like Martin himself, old and new fans should be more than content with this fantastic new CD. BLUES MATTER

"Eddie Martin’s nine-album career has seen him transform to one of the most respected blues performers in Europe. He’s always written strong songs and is highly adept at adapting blues musical themes to fit those songs – in fact this is the sort of album that will be loved by American rock radio stations.Definitely an album to please his regular fans it should also draw attention from a host of new listeners" VENUE MAGAZINE *****

" At last a British blues act with the style, panache, song-writing ability and multi instrumental talent to do justice to the blues. That is not to say that there aren’t a raft of great players in either the UK or London in particular, but lets face it, the amount of strong song writers in the genre can be counted on one hand. No such problems with Eddie Martin" www.bluesrockers.com

"Contrary Mary will naturally go down particularly well with those who like their blues on the tough side, but there is still light and shade here to appease those who want more sensitivity from their music. It is certainly an intelligent work, for all its brawn, and there can surely be few who would begrudge this most consistently interesting of performers a bit more exposure outside the blues ghetto" BLUES IN BRITAIN 9/10

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EDDIE MARTIN - Contrary Mary