MARTIN Stephenson must be the most restless musician in Britain. Not only does he always make it his mission to cover every inch of a theatre, stage, stalls and all, at every gig, but he has rattled off albums at more than one a year since 1986.
Number 40 finds the affable north-eastern folkie looking west to the America of alt.country, Laurel Canyon and Americana from his studio nook in Stirling and Airdrie. He and his myriad Daintees switch from style to style with elan and his sweet melody radar is tuned in crystal clear once more. “Hurry up Jimmy Pursey, going down the pub,” he whispers with familiar Stephenson whimsy in The Ship before Streets Of San Sebastian echoes an Ennio Morricone spaghetti western soundtrack.
Boy To Man is a classic Stephenson childhood recollection, Something Special matches its title and his restlessness resurfaces anew as he leaves America for the finale, a lovers-rock take on Helen McCookerybook’s I’m In Love For The First Time. Roll on album number 41, recorded already apparently.
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