Martyn Joseph

Item: The Shirley Sessions
Author: Steve Stockman

The Shirley Sessions

(2000)

Reviewed by Steve Stockman

Discogs Bandcamp

Label Pipe RecordsThe Phantom TollboothSeptember 2000

acoustic folk singer-songwriter

Now you see I know what you are thinking. You're thinking that Martyn has just released a full album and that as this is no more than a maxi ep he's probably filled it with the b-sides he used to need in his Sony days but now hasn't the singles to give them birth. You're thinking that you're not sure about buying eight sub standard songs. These were only written to fill in time after being thrown off the Dame Shirley Bassey tour.

I know that is what you are thinking. Well think again. I sat in a songwriter circle at Greenbelt where Martyn was asked to sing his most recent song. When he played "Undiscovered Love" the crowd's applause was like a 5 star Q review. It is as beautiful a song as the Welshman has ever written. It's an indication too of how far Joseph's song writing has come. He just keeps maturing. Here we see great images, brilliant economy of words, superb melody and gorgeous mood.

"Kiss the World Beautiful" is not far behind "Undiscovered Love." Already available to his Passport Queue members (sign up now to get news, interviews and fab free CDs -- http://www.martynjoseph.com) it has still not been explained why it didn't make "Far From Silent."

And on and on it goes. Just beautiful songs. Social issues and injustice are here as always. "Half of a Man" and "Hush Mother" deal with family violence and world injustice killing our children--this time it's Chernobyl. Personal and spiritual reflection are here also with "We Are Men" another Canadian tour inspired introspection and then "He's Mine" is little rhyming altar to Martyn's faith journey. Interesting that where in the past "he will follow" is now a hope to follow. Seems to be looking for some grace to cover his sin which is described as something that he does best. Very Rich Mullins in its ragamuffin honesty.

If song writing was golf then Joseph would be a cert on the next Ryder Cup team and maybe David Gray's surprising and gorgeous success will bring such great songs to a wider audience. This release is a sign that Martyn Joseph is no longer in search of that illusive deal. He's just doing what he does and getting it out there to those who know that they want to hear it. Glad I'm one of them.