M.J. Harris • Martyn Bates* – Murder Ballads (Passages)
Label:
Musica Maxima Magnetica – eee 36
Format:
CD, Album
Country:
Released:
Genre:
Style:
Tracklist
| 1 | The Bramble Briar | 13:28 | ||
| 2 | The Cruel Mother | 11:29 | ||
| 3 | The Banks Of Fordie | 13:10 | ||
| 4 | The Murder Of Maria Marten | 17:29 |
Credits
- Artwork By [Illustrations] – Laurence Housemen
- Artwork By, Design – Martyn Bates
- Composed By – M.J. Harris/Martyn Bates*
- Executive Producer – Luiciano Dari
- Mastered By – DADC Austria
- Producer – M.J. Harris and Martyn Bates*
- Recorded By, Mixed By – M.J. Harris*
Notes
Total time: 55:38
Recorded & mixed at The Box, july 96.
With thanks also to Peter Becker at A-Scale.
Illustrations taken from books 'Jump To Glory Jane', 'Homestead Westward In The Blue Mountains', 'The Passionate Puppets'.
Recommendations
-
M.J. Harris • Martyn Bates* - Murder Ballads (Drift) (CD, Album)
-
M.J. Harris • Martyn Bates* - Murder Ballads (Incest Songs) (CD, Album)
-
Troum - Tjukurrpa (Part One: Harmonies) (CD, Album)
-
Current 93 - Earth Covers Earth (CD, Album)
-
Martyn Bates | Troum - To A Child Dancing In The Wind (CD, Album, Dig)
- Discogs Marketplace
-
6 For Sale from $6.76
- Sell your CD
Release
Explore Similar Releases
Data Correct -
Edit
[r407705]
MARTYN has searched around to find a second collection of tales to chill the blood. Although the two artists are credited with 'compositions', I believe these are actually old folk songs, with the fourth piece more commonly known as "The Murder In The Red Barn" and dating back to pre-Jack The Ripper times, when it was then considered to be a crime worthy of portraying in song and even a play (check out the old black and white film starring TODD SLAUGHTER - it kinda romanticises Maria Marten more than history considers she deserves, but is worth seeking out if you like these tales).
MICK has created a dark screen against which the voice is set, slow, soporific, bad dream driftworks which make a perfect mood for the cold stories to unfold against. As with his LULL project, this is deep, muted and less to do with recognizable 'music' than of a feeling, a mood.
The backing soundtrack on this is so far up that you need full volume to discern the words. The original demo used this as a carpet over which MARTYN's words crept, and seemed to have a much more powerful effect. Now the soundtrack is a high wall of darkness, over which the voice stands tiptoe to be discerned. I'm not criticising this - this album has been lauded enough for it to be right, but then there can be two conflicting opinions, both correct. I guess it's the difference between two films - say the brooding depression of "10 Rillington Place" as the demo, and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" as the album. Both very scary films - both effective - but with a distinctly different approach to the horrors they portray.
But all said, this is still a chilling and fairly unique listening experience. Buy the box set, if you can find it - and "The Bloody Gardner", that elusive 13th track. It'll be money well spent.
Originally reviewed for Soft Watch.