First impressions...

Okay so about half way through the first listen of The Blue God and i'm really liking it so far.

Apart from Carnies and Poison, other stand out tracks are Phoenix (opening track, kinda slow and stripped down - reminds me a little of a slow Hot Chip track), Something to Say (wicked little track, with loads of atmosphere), Baby Blue (like the fifties girl group feel to this track - guitar reminds me a little of Wicked Game, but that could just be me!) and of course Valentine - being a big cheesy romantic type this is possibly my favourite track on the album.

All in all, a great second album from a great singer/songwriter... feels very different to Quixotic but that's to be expected considering the team working with Martina this time around... really enjoying the "old movie" sound to the album and loving the cover art too...

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Permalink Reply by Natalia on May 12, 2008 at 18:51

After first listening I was little disappointment to be honest. I felt like something'd been missed in the album. Now I don't think that. TBG is the best to be listened with headphones, because you don't lose any sound. There are lot of interesting, but quiet sounds which make the songs really special. Magical I could say. I love the fact that Martina's voice is calm, but there are so "dirty" sounds, psychodelic sounds in contrast. Great!
The song I like the least is 'Da Da Da Da'. I was curious about it when I saw the title first time. I thought it was a "rnomal' song, hehe. It's like "an intermission" for me. Anyway, it's quite interesting track, because it isn't often (or it never happens ;)) to hear a song with only "da da da da" as lyrics.
My favourite tracks so far are 'Shangri La' (well, I've loved it since it appeared on myspace) and 'Something To Say'. I also love 'Phoenix', 'April Grove', 'Poison'. I like much 'Baby Blue' and - finally - 'Valentine'.
Oook. Love the whole album!

Congrats to Martina and to Dangermouse:)

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Permalink Reply by EX on May 19, 2008 at 13:48

Potential still not yet fulfilled

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on May 21, 2008 at 23:03

I really love it (even still). At first it didn't feel very cohesive.. but I think that was due to slowly hearing bit by bit up until this point. Now that I've given it multiple listens as a whole, it really feels like it takes you on a weird, surprisingly colorful world. I get that old movie feel from it as well.

Favorites right now.. Valentine, at the tippy top. It's become one of my most favorite songs of all time.. and it pulls you even deeper into the weird world of The Blue God. April Grove, Carnies , Phoenix and Shangri La running close behind.

I actually enjoy Da Da Da Da, not as a stand alone track, but like an interlude as Natalia mentioned. Only track I haven't really gotten into like the others is Yesterday.. dunno, it's such an odd song. It seems like it lacks a melody due to so much going on.. which makes me wonder if I'd like the live version better. I love when it goes all quiet after the intial glitchiness.

Oh yeah, and props to the cover art for sure.. it fits perfectly, the photos of Topley-Bird are beautiful.. and I really love the Sympathy For Lady Vengence nods! It makes me really hope we get a few more singles out of the album, just to see the artwork, haha.

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Permalink Reply by EX on May 22, 2008 at 14:53

Its a lot more cohesive than Quixotic.

I've been waiting for a record with her voice, character and intelligence but with more naked emotions, cinematic dynamics, arrangement amazingness and undeniable melodic and lyrical supreme genius... [hopefully that'll be what the 2013 album is.] ;)

That said, Phoenix, Shangri-la have something... Yesterday presumably is intended as some sort of outro afterthought as Da Da Da Da is intended to be the midway interval... I'd be lying if I said I was heavily into that track, it just sounds like she's bored out of her mind.

Have to say I would've been a lot more into a Leila-produced record, presuming the noise-layering excesses could be restrained, the track with Terry Hall was ace... so its a shame that couldn't transpire... might dig out the link for the video interview MTB did if nobody has already...