Mike Marlin: Man On The Ground
Mike Marlin
Album: Man On The Ground
Rating: 5/5
Released: 13th February
It’s very rare that an artist releases a second album just twelve months after releasing his debut but that is exactly what Mike Marlin has done with Man On The Ground.
I suppose there is always the danger that a second record made so quickly may not be as good as the first but there is not danger of that with this album - it really is simply stunning.
Man On The Ground opens with The Magician which really is a triumph and is one of the best songs on this incredible record.
The Magician calmly crescendos and Marlin’s vocals disappear with a minute to go and we are left with some beautiful guitar and piano work.
Catherine Marks, the record’s producer, is on hand to play the piano and it really does bring this track in particular to life.
Man On The Ground is perhaps a more personal album than that of Nearly Man a year ago and tackles love and loss as well as the journey and experience of life.
He has penned an album with ideas that we can all relate to Lost & Found and Hymn To Disappointment are perhaps the best examples of this - where life doesn’t always work out as we want or expect it to.
But what really makes this album so good are Marlin’s vocals. He has a deep and rich voice it’s almost hypnotic and just draws you in as each songs go by.
He doesn’t do anything flash with those vocals but they are really are pushed to the limit with this record.
Man On The Ground really is full of up tempo tracks that you just get swept along with but they really are heartfelt and emotional lyrics.
Travel the World closes the out album and it’s in this record were those emotional lyrics really are but to beautiful use.
Joined on vocals by Eleanor McEvoy this is perhaps the most downbeat song on the record -but the sombre yet beautiful strings really help these lyrics make a huge impact.
Man On The Ground is one of the first must have albums of 2012 as it is just class from beginning to end.
Mike Marlin: Man On The Ground is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw