Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23279 in Music
• Released on: 2008-05-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .14 pounds

Album Description
2008 sophomore album from one of the most fascinating female artists in modern music today, produced by Danger Mouse. Topley-Bird first gained exposure through her work with Bristolian trip hop pioneer Tricky. Coming five years after her 2003 debut, 'The Blue God' sees Martina take the fabulous contradictions of her past and wrap them in live instruments and luxurious production, resulting in a unique musical environment which fuses Hollywood glitz, psychedelic-pop riffs, ambient interludes, light and shade and her trademark futuristic pop noir; includes the singles 'Carnies' & 'Poison' 12 tracks including the singles 'Poison' and 'Carnies'. Independiente.

Customer Reviews

MTB better than ever!
Every song on here is a classic. She has the most beautiful voice and an original unpretentious style that is instantly recognizable. The lyrics, the music, everything... either she or the people around her are ingenious. I can't imagine anyone purchasing this album and not liking it. I wish she were more renowned in the US, but then again she's my little secret. I play her and whoever listening is like, "who is that?"... yeah maybe she shouldn't distribute over here after all. Keep it up Martina, I love you.

Fantastic!!
UK songstress Martina Topley Bird is better known as the voice on loads of songs on UK Trip Hop artist Tricky's debut "Maxinquaye". Her 2003 solo debut "Quixotic" earned her a Mercury music prize nomination.

She returns on her sophomore disc with wunderkind Dangermouse twiddling the production knobs, and the result is dreamy psychedelic Pop/Soul, with live-sounding percussion and a dense sound.

Her light airy vocals (she reminds me of Skye of Morcheeba) fleet playfully on opening cut, the dreamy lightly throbbing "Phoenix" (which references the album title). "Carnies" is upbeat Pop (with haunting harmonies), while the creepy but upbeat "April grove" sounds like the soundtrack to some sinister movie.

In fact, there is a dark, creepy vibe throughout the album, even on its more upbeat moments. Continuing along those lines is the swirling "Something to say" (with a Dub/Folk feel). "Baby blue" is a twinkly bouncy catchy number, while "Shangri la" is a sultry ballad with chopping guitars and a Blues-ey vibe.

Every song is a standout really, from "Snowman" (a charming midtempo guitar driven song), the psychedelic ballad "Da da da da", the swinging "Valentine", the swirling ballad "Poison" (with disembodied sounding vocals), the bouncy ethereal semi instrumental "Razor tongue" (comprising just la la la aah vocals), and the distorted mind bending sounding closing cut "Yesterday" (with a light Dub feel).

Edgy and experimental, an excellent CD. If you like Tricky, Gorillaz, Portishead, or even Goldfrapp's latest CDs, this might just be up your alley.

Martina Topley-Bird at her finest
Perfectly crafted pop with soul, jazz and lounge woven throughout and production assistance from Danger Mouse. This amazing record should permanently break her out of the shadow of former collaborator Tricky.