Laura J Martin

Following the release of her acclaimed sophomore album ‘Dazzle Days’, Liverpudlian singer-songwriter Laura J Martin is back with new album ‘On The Never Never’, released March 11th on Shape Records via Kartel Music Group.

'On The Never Never' tells of the disconnect Martin felt when returning home to Liverpool to find that all individuality had been erased and replaced by gleaming empty flats. With former thriving communities dissolved, Paul Kingsnorth's 2009 study of a nation losing its identity, ‘Real England’, loomed large in her mind when writing the album: "Everywhere is becoming the same as everywhere else".

What better antidote to the homogenisation of culture, communities and individuality than ripping up your own rule book and “veering from the norm to truly experience life”? A different approach was needed so she flew to the USA to make the album.  “It was written on the piano with the intention of getting other players involved as I wanted to make this record differently than I had before.”

A chance conversation with Lambchop’s Matt Swanson and Tony Crow proved fruitful and they planted the seeds of an idea in Martin’s head that “recording in Nashville and working with Mark Nevers was a real possibility”. Swanson and Crow join the all-star band for ‘On The Never Never’ alongside Silver Jews’ Brian Kotzur on drums and The Jesus Lizard’s Duane Denison reviving Fame-era Jimmy Johnson on electric guitar.  

Of recording in Nashville, Martin says: “it was a chance to totally surrender to new surroundings, step into the unfamiliar and see where it would go. I like that Mark can do the traditional Nashville 'system' style recordings but has a background in punk rock and making things work no matter the budget or situation. His records always sound great - fat, round and never trad. He also makes the best sandwiches”

Shot through with wit and humour alongside the sociopolitical themes - one of the characters talks of bleaching toilets and taking trips to Lanzarote - ‘On The Never Never’ skips through waltz timings, bears influences from Scott Walker to the Compass Point Allstars and picks up a guest vocal from Benjamin Zephaniah along the way. With 'On The Never Never', Martin has produced a hopeful record, full of joy, beauty and tongue in cheek looks at those in charge.

"A musician of startling originality... Musically she comes from the school whose alumni include Tom Waits, Kate Bush & Joanna Newsome" The Sunday Times

"An extraordinary and eclectic mix of flute, loops, mandolin and xylophone" Uncut

"Lithe and fluent, Martin's debut flutters like a flighter Joanna Newsom or a playful Kate Bush" The Independent