Idea's Everywhere - 2/5
Solo artist Martin Livingstone from Scotland has his latest released in an eight track album called “Living on an Island”, featuring all the instruments being played by Andrew Tait. It sounds like something Sting would do, just with more slide guitars and rock n roll. The rock elements from the album do show vividly, but the ideas and the influences the flow between these tracks turn the tables that makes this album into shambles.
“Living on an Island” opens up with pounding drums before the Hendrix like guitar kicks in, but it all gets too much. Martin’s vocals as well don’t suit the genre well either in the rock/indie aspect and would more fit an acoustic session than anything else, although the vocal harmonies are beautiful, with more of a Hendrix influence showing from the solo. “Strength beyond strength” sounds like something MCR would write, giving an optimistic tone to the album with the fuzzy guitar working in full affect, just with the drums being irritating on this track. “Music is my God” is the definitive highlight of the album with stunning guitar playing and Martin’s vocals in full swing whilst playing tightly with the drumming. The follow up is “Alien 96/The Illusion” with sounds that Tom Morello would probably make working with Seasick Steve (with the slide guitar) and adds an interesting element to the album of an odd instrumental, before it becomes distorted and messy afterwards. “The Chaos” seems to work a bit better, messing with the vocals to give it a surreal atmosphere over Andrew's guitar. Finishing off with “Love” shows the acoustic side of him, that fares far better than with an electric, whilst crooning on about, well, love.
Without a doubt it’s an interesting album. But the ideas are everywhere from straight rock to experimental to love songs. Martin Livingstone just needs to thread all of his ideas together into one cohesive piece in order to make it something effective rather than just hoping for the best.
“Living on an Island” opens up with pounding drums before the Hendrix like guitar kicks in, but it all gets too much. Martin’s vocals as well don’t suit the genre well either in the rock/indie aspect and would more fit an acoustic session than anything else, although the vocal harmonies are beautiful, with more of a Hendrix influence showing from the solo. “Strength beyond strength” sounds like something MCR would write, giving an optimistic tone to the album with the fuzzy guitar working in full affect, just with the drums being irritating on this track. “Music is my God” is the definitive highlight of the album with stunning guitar playing and Martin’s vocals in full swing whilst playing tightly with the drumming. The follow up is “Alien 96/The Illusion” with sounds that Tom Morello would probably make working with Seasick Steve (with the slide guitar) and adds an interesting element to the album of an odd instrumental, before it becomes distorted and messy afterwards. “The Chaos” seems to work a bit better, messing with the vocals to give it a surreal atmosphere over Andrew's guitar. Finishing off with “Love” shows the acoustic side of him, that fares far better than with an electric, whilst crooning on about, well, love.
Without a doubt it’s an interesting album. But the ideas are everywhere from straight rock to experimental to love songs. Martin Livingstone just needs to thread all of his ideas together into one cohesive piece in order to make it something effective rather than just hoping for the best.