Master-class chops on guitar and harmonica are to be expected now from this highly-rated multi-instrumentalist with eight critically-acclaimed albums under his belt.

Martin has often received “excellent” tags from the international guitar press, and, as for the harmonica, he is often globe-trotting to judge national harmonica competitions and festivals. But his virtuosity is displayed here with the sense of economy that comes with maturity.

He has been around long enough to know that a good record is about putting over strong songs with feeling. He achieves this and more on “Contrary Mary”. This album rocks with exciting grooves and hooks-aplenty, and, as early press reactions concur, it’s his best release yet.

What raises the yardstick above a good-time party album – even though it works on that level if you like –is the songwriting, which combines lyrical depth and passion.

The stories range wide across good-time, personal and political: There is the blue-collar rock of “Living for the Weekend”, street-poetry that Mr Zimmerman would approve of in “Better the Devil You Know” (a rant against fast-buck ghetto evangelism), and the Raga-Rock plea for tolerance “Watching the Weather”. Martin shows he has a big heart too in “Beautiful Miracles”’, a celebration of emergent fatherhood.

Mostly stripped-down power trio, as on the title-track lament for the bar-girl victim “Contrary Mary”, Martin embellishes with rootsy class. There is the itchy, whooping country of biker-dance “Month of Mondays” and the soulful gospel backing on the road story “Ingolstadt” .

Co-produced by (Joshua J Macrae) this is a great sounding record which should push comfortably into mainstream rock radio-play while still keeping Eddie’s blues fans happy.

All 10 tracks are original and feature Martin’s trademark gritty emotive vocals and excellent musicianship all-round. It’s a must-buy party record for all generations….but there’s lyrical depth to ponder as well as grooves to move your feet to.

Further Information from
Martin Fairclough
+44 (0)1373 455093