Thursday, April 24, 2008
 

Just the other day I realized that in addition to more quality underground hip hop there is one thing that I would love to have in 2008, and it's an artist (or seven) who knows what the word sultry means.  I was spoiled last year with new efforts from Sharon Jones, Nicole Willis and a quite few others, so being almost four full months into this one with nothing for my ears to love has me feeling empty inside.  Fortunately though, I now have Martina Topley Bird.  I discovered the gem of a woman yesterday, and I'm confident she'll be all I need for some time to come.  That is, of course, as soon as I can get my grubby hands on the Danger Mouse-produced The Blue God, which is her first record in five years and will be out on May 11 courtesy of Independiente.  Enjoy.

:Martina Topley Bird - Valentine:  Even though I know that Martina has been making music for a long time I still can't get by how mature and atmospheric this feels.  It's literally the kind of song that you can clearly imagine being performed in a dark bar in the early morning hours where the only people still there are just sitting around soaking in the music and living in their own worlds.  Trust me when I say that you might want to break out the stiff liquor and cigarettes for this one.

By this point in the post you should have already fallen in love with Martina, but if you've somehow managed to avoid doing so then her sheer beauty combined with the trippy effects used in this video for Carnies will very quickly make you change your mind.

- John Laird -

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