These
Martin Newell , called Bard of Wivenhoe, commissioned to convey the stories, legends and poems of his land, exemplifying all these years that quality of being eccentric store the essence inherited from the British pop
Beatles, Kinks
,
Syd Barret ... you know. "English Traditional Pop used to be in the sixties," he says, with the guiding values \u200b\u200bof good songs made spontaneously, without being overproduced, with lyrics full of modest vignettes of all the little things in life that are salvageable British and are disappearing faster than ever: courtesy, countryside and rural life, the changing seasons ... exhilarating lessons outlining the vision of a world enhanced further with his work as a poet and the custom of wearing Dickensian mode (do not remember a better
Dickens characters side? Is not the servant Sam Weller
which manages to maintain interest while reading
The Pickwick Papers ?), which have a kind of relic of Victorian atmosphere. As a pleasant whiff of oysters and stout ... adding another homemade cider and marijuana, to reduce a possible classical straightjacket. Especially in the early days of the career of this illustrious not self-centered eccentric.
"I must have been the only guy in the world to join a gang to escape the drugs'
Colchester-Essex-northeast, about 1973, just turned twenty. His musical beginnings were the product of its time: The Mighty Plod
, a glam rock band. "We were the answer to The Sweet
in the event that The Sweet were a question". At the same time, was part of a generation too young and to be hippies and that he felt had lost its musicians looking to British with long beards that make long drives progressive rock or intended to sound like the Eagles
. Legend has it that clinched the adventure with The Mighty Plod came to flirt with London SS
those that were the seeds that germinate punk
The Damned, Generation X
or The Clash . Responded to the advertisement in which a singer called "truly wild", but did not go to the hearing.
He said his introduction to fame was "Young Jobless," the single that made for Liberty in 1980. Put it on Radio One, and he listened as she washed dishes in a restaurant. And lived in Wivenhoe, near Colchester, and went on to become popular because of some newspaper, because of the letter, he wanted to make our Martin in a druggie and paranoid recluse. "Very important, because that was what prompted me to form The Cleaners From Venus." Lyrics
exchange for tea bags
was 1981, and was determined to make direct pop songs with bad or good lyrics, but always instant pop music: "Beautiful melodies with a touch of psychedelic guitars. It was actually very naive: I liked the Beatles, the Monkees
... that kind of thing. What more complicated than intellectual or technical aspects. "
portaestudio He bought a TEAC 144 ("Andy Partridge
,
Captain Sensible of The Damned ... all had the same"), and with Lawrence
Lol-Smith (who dried the dishes that restaurant), began the adventure of
Cleaners From Venus, distributing what they recorded on tape. "We were the inventors of the cassette underground." Were unwilling to communicate with the tax system. Lol friend's fault, really into alternative questions (someone "absolutely no discipline, but bright and funny"), it sure was wrong anarchists treaties between plates and spoons. They were full of thoughts about early naive and subversive. "If we wanted to make music, and apparently there were people who wanted to hear, the question was how to remove it from our hearts and through your fingers, put it in the ears of the people without interfering all this plethora of parasites industry. That slogan
Lennon: "What if there was a war and nobody out?" So that, what if no one signed with the record companies? "And they began to distribute their music by mail, in exchange for ..." I do I know ... nonperishable food, anything! But when we saw that we could not afford the postage to tea bags, then try to sell cheap belts could. We were poor but happy. "
The fanzines were blessed work (special mention for
Joachim Reinbold, who in front of Jarmusic has distributed during all these years, the material of Martin Newell, ensuring that there are still vinyl on your disks), and the tape was number five (
Under Wartime Conditions ) became the first album of the Cleaners, published in Germany by Modell in 1985.
Going To England (Amunnition, 1987) was next, and in England. It is "Living With Victoria Grey, one of those songs that difficult to avoid thinking that this is his most memorable. Nor should we forget other notable songs Cleaners Directory included in this album, like "Girl On A Swing", "Mercury Girl" or "Illya Kuryakin Looked At Me." They sold about 10,000 copies, and even the name appeared in a crossword
Sounds for Christmas. By then Martin already had help from Giles Smith
on keyboards (one of the buddies in his career, as were Lol Smith, Captain Sensible or next, Nelson
).
Town and Country
(Ammunition, 1988) was the third and final album of the Cleaners (no longer Lol, and notably "Felicity", composed by Giles Smith), so that the adventure takes a total of seven years eight cassettes and three albums, summarized in a couple of collections taken by Tangerine Records, label that reissues so special that did spread to the early nineties just this particular scent as English that Martin Newell is so guilty. A seal that well deserves a fond remembrance (
Paul Bevoir and Jet Set
;
Squire! ;
Direct Hits ...).
These compilations (
Golden Cleaners and Back From The Cleaners ) reflect its more substantial pop talent, apart from rudimentary and spontaneous sounds of great significance to him because he is on the tapes where the true spirit, because once signed with companies disk, then you put engineers and musicians to stop all that nonsense. We thought that music should be done instantly. Did not believe in hard work and refinement of the artisans. The disorder was much more fun. I still worship the flaw, the sound cheap. Is what keeps professionals and technocrats. I always prefer to think, "Go! Already is the time? Anyone for a beer? ". This is the spirit of Sam Weller, the character who exemplified the relentless stream of nonsense full of wisdom. Back to lift those hips side to honor those who were able to make it an ideal of good life. The
problem or even know how to be corrupt, rural life and how to know England by bicycle.
much pressure, too much professionalism to the taste of Martin in the last days of the Cleaners: "Everyone saw opportunities to make money, career, ambitions, and I never was hungry for money. I liked the attention, of course; interviews, meeting people ... The problem is that I am a simpleton, and when others push me too, and I let him go. "
The Brotherhood Of Lizards was an attempt to return to the spirit of the Cleaners. He often compared all the time with a boat, and the Cleaners were "the raft with a pair of underpants by flag" with which he and Lol sailed deep into the music business. For the last two albums, when Giles came in, the raft became a kind of more polished schooner which waved and pants with patches, "but I did not like to be as polished and I wanted to go back on a boat, rowing with Nelson. "Nelson is your friend
Nice Peter, who started as a bassist in the last days of the Cleaners and blew up the much more famous
New Model Army. She still lives in Colchester, working with Martin and, God bless him going by bike.
Thus, Martin Newell had decided to end the Cleaners From Venus, and Nelson stayed with him. Buskers and poor, but there was Captain Sensible to provide a tape recorder and get your music listening followed by Andy McQueen
that given the opportunity to record an LP Deltic his trademark, "It cost a lot, nothing opulent." And with sessions that were on that bike and recorded among chickens, rabbits and cats, finished with the beer made at home or going to the pub, ended
Lizardland in the summer of 1987. Venititrés book cost. This is the story in the album notes, taking the habit of dropping in every album of his a number of comments for their fans so much pleasure as the music it contains.
- "And now I guess there is no opportunity to do some touring, right?" Said Andy McQueen, to finalize the disc.
- "Yes, but it will be a bike," they retorted. That
tour was famous ("The best I've ever done in my life"), and was echoed in the media with current environmental awareness in favor, but always, even to change their address, were in the air against . It is the eternal law that cyclists suffer.
Until 1990, the day came when the New Model Army needed a bass player and someone remembered that Nelson was a good bassist and EMI offered the job. "We were riding through the plains of Salisbury, in silence. There came a time when I said: 'Nelson, you have to catch it, you know .... " A few miles in silence, until he muttered: "Yeah, I guess'."
"When the world is too fast, I'm in the Garden"
was the end of another great adventure. He could not go, because Nelson had left everything to go with him, after Cleaners. No, did not deserve to be replaced by someone. So Martin went on to write, tired of the music, decided to live in poverty writing poetry and light verse, "Instead of being robbed blind by entertainers with a cash register for the heart."
funny thing is that as a writer if it was immediately recognized. Someone read a funny poem his pop singers on Radio One (Radio One again) that generated interest, and someone from the days of The Cleaners From Venus who worked for The Independent
called him and offered him a weekly column. Suddenly, Martin had become a poet whose books are sold.
Until there came a day in 1991 or 1992 when he received a call from Andy Partridge, asking if he had more books published. And Martin had spent his second book in exchange for Nonsuch
disk. Nice exchange. Kevin Crace was
, Humbug seal, who had the idea that Andy could produce a new album. "Okay, send me some songs." And listened to their demos and said, "Well not nothing wrong, Martin. I do not understand how you're just known ', shocked.
And so that two people who in many ways kindred spirits appear, said by friends of both parties came together to give the world one of the greatest albums of British pop music. The recording sessions were done in the studio that Andy is in the shed of his house, and it seems like everything conspired to make a title like The Greatest Living Englishman
had a consistent sound reflection. Both went through similar family crisis, and have comforted each other used to be hard work as therapy. Martin is clear: "It's the best I've done in my life. When I die, I can proudly say that this is what I leave to the world. "
The way in which the demos were presented to Andy spent the control of its legendary thoroughness. "I knew that Andy has a reputation as a cross between Mussolini and Santa Claus, but there was no problem. When the shots started to beat me, always gave a break to take a tea. "Andy took ringostariana battery, this and the other," XTC
touches - and Martin made a few practical lessons more effervescent jangle jingle . "My guitar was always a Hofner of 58, although the time of the Cleaners and Fireglo used a Rickenbacker 330. Well, thank goodness it was not a musician!
Somebody make another round while we imagine Andy Martin and the Cheshire cat grin, stuck in that shed. "My only contribution was to connect a wireless technique of cooking to the table of the study to see if the songs passed the ultimate test of listening to radio through a lifetime." What to choose some songs, when it begins with "Goodbye Dreaming Fields" and ends with "An Englishman's Home", may re-hear all over again without the magic wane. A magic that transmits the solemn joviality friendship, adventure erratic English for the old ways, the hospitality of the old taverns, elementary kindness and honor of old English manners. And the gradual loss of all that. One of these disks are not very numerous in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The first copies of the album were accompanied by
Live at The Greyhound , live recording of his book of poems in the pub in Wivenhoe. "If you arrive any day at the pub said I was famous as a musician, I know in Germany or in America, think I'm lying or that I've gone crazy." But the answers to the hard was enthusiastic, and there tours of Japan and France accompanied by his sidekick, Captain Sensible and Dave Gregory, and concerts in England opening for Robyn Hitchcock
(another good example of what we bring here), and Tangerine compilations and reissue CD Lizardland
USA ... Goodness Gracious! Martin had left the music to be a professional gardener and then quickly become a writer with published work. And now that interest in his musical career, he had never been considered a musician and I did not expect that someone would remember what he did, and one day thought this writing was what I always had to have done and perhaps should never be a pop singer ... His career hit another growth spurt. The funny irony is that the less worried about making music, plus interest aroused his records.
acknowledge, Martin: "In England we are good at making pop music. It is one of the few things I'm patriotic. We had the best pop band in the world, while Americans got the second best ...
The Beach Boys, of course. "
of how to record songs in the forest of Wivenhoe
In 1995
EP released on Let's Kiosk with The Jangling Man " Album front, with three new songs in which Martin himself takes charge of production, among which perhaps the sensitive atmospheric beauty of "I Will Haunt Your Room". But there was still occasional written in the kitchen of Andy Partridge, so with the encouragement of this came a new album, The Off White Album
(Humbug, 1995), made in twenty days of work, this time with the admired Louis Philippe
flying (another good idea of \u200b\u200bKevin Crace), who made a production session to seem as interesting and entertaining as he used to do that
Richard Preston in his records to Records. "Louis has a great sensitivity, very European, very classic. It is a wonderful string arranger. And if it tends to deploy the politeness of a Parisian intellectual, sometimes he can be so raw and folksy as a rural veterinarian. "
If above was assisted in the guitars of Dave Gregory, the thing was easy to make a suitably stamped new collection of songs. Here are "The Girls In The Flat Upstairs," which closes it so exciting, or "Miss Van Houten's Coffee Shoppe," declared intent of how
Brian Wilson might have made his album The Village Green
. We also find a release, "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Other", of Smiths
... "To prove that I can also ruin other people's songs."
That shows how poetry and music go together tandem through the English countryside
next year appears
Box Of Old Humbug, containing these two albums and EP. Martin was then re-concentrated again in his role as writer and iconoclastic poet, settling in his beloved rural habitat, looking at the accompanying loneliness of his books and his strange habits that are product to maintain a spirited bohemian with understated elegance. Save us then, Lord, custom "normal." What a way to have to be an exile in his own land. "So, I share with the likes of Captain Sensible, XTC, Robyn Hitchcock, Stephen Duffy
of Lilac Time , Julian Cope
and a few personalities that being eccentric kooks, right? If crazy means not going out there in a horrific car listening to the whole milk, leaving the Big Mac wrapper cyclists from falling over unprotected, then possibly yes we are crazy eccentrics. "
was
matter of time before the composer who only does things for fun is found with the record company that only publishes things you like, "That the artist is not concerned with his career found the seal that does not use the promotion." Cherry Red continues to survive, and well: there are the multitude of stamps dedicated to the reissue of good material, "after more than twenty five years installed on the left side of the labels in England. No one was surprised that Martin Newell resume his compositions for editing in Cherry Red, which in 1999 prepared the return with a generous compilation,
The Wayward Genius Of Martin Newell , to review his career. But no, assured that "there will be collaborations with Burt Bacharach
, or attempts to
versionee Tom Jones 'Wake Up and Smell The Offy' or supermodels ... There will probably be a pint of beer, before returning to work."
In October 2000 we find ourselves with a new album, The Spirit Cage
presented under some illustrations inspired moments of joy of the plebeian classes in Victorian times, and produced by his colleague Nelson, with aid in the last minute, again, Andy Partridge, "When I heard that the Red Cherry Masters are in a small studio in Swindon, I called Andy, who came quickly to help sound the finishing touches. One of those happy accidents. "A new feast for the poor, with a handful of excellent songs Newell brand, especially in the first half of the album:" Wake Up And Smell The Offy "," My Old School "(very Wilsonian, such as exercising a capella of "Lily's Lullaby" which closes the album), "You Slay Me," "Sugarcane", "A Smash Bird Like Brenda" ...
And so we have a couple of years later,
Radio Autumn Attic (Cherry Red, 2002). It was the most published poet in the United Kingdom, and few knew of his work as a musician, "And those who know me ask, from time to time, 'Martin, do you still with the music?" As if it was a venereal disease. "Those who were never interested or bothered you missed this race, but even many who praised works such as The Greatest Living Englishman
not seem to worry about their later albums, certainly less capriciously but equally blessed by the followers of someone who has earned the healthy attitude of one who is serious, as would the great
Chesterton, the act of running after his own hat, knowing that sometimes there is nothing more joyful than enjoying the ridiculous things. Proposed
tune as if a European radio on Mars, the disc contains here and there typical promotional spots, and an excerpt from his book, This Little Ziggy
in which he recalls his first steps in this music. Back to Nelson at the controls, the low "and the modest violin, the album opens with" The Duchess Of Leylandia ", a compendium of the hallmarks of Brian Wilson at the piano, the Beatles in those guitar licks, and a final yours with this classic way to stretch the melody to sing, like dropping by a mountain Russian to finish with those touches to the keyboard to Procol Harum
as its taste, too. But brings more songs to add to the anthology: "The Wicked Witch, sprinkled with fragrant psychedelia," Life As A Broken Doll, "another good year jangle," When We Were A Thing "...
Jarmusic added in summer That same year an EP with four new songs,
Songs From The Station Hotel , which featured a beautiful cover of that old photograph of Wivenhoe pub. It was the latest edition exclusive interest of the seal material Joachim Reinbold, who has followed the work of Martin catalog distribution Newell until very recently. His work for the fans has been like manna from heaven. Martin wanted to thank for giving those songs to edit them.
In the old launches into his favorite subject, and the consequences that there
In 2004 Cherry Red
added Living With Victoria Grey. The Very Best Of ... to Shopping compilations when he appeared
The Light Programme (Cherry Red, 2004), a stunning new album that presents us with the suit and slicked-back hair in crooner plan prepared to meet an audience of older people. The reason must be sought in the more frequent use piano, guitar rather than as a tool to compose, but especially in the influence of a new friend:
Richard Shelton, a jazz singer who began writing some songs. See if our man will end up being a reference in the English popular song!
So this is the album easy listening to light jazz plan of Martin Newell, in which we find to Nelson, this time to another old friend, Giles Smith, piano. An album without guitars but with some songs that do not need to enter the selection of the best golden distillate Martin Newell: "After The Boy Gets In", "Grenadine and Blue" (composed Richard Shelton) or "Trinity Square" maintain the style of the house. Caprichos
unexpected result always do that anytime you look like a good idea. And consistent conclusions: "I had to make an album of jazzy style to really learn what is mine."
Return to pop autorrefrescante
A Summer Tamarind (Cherry Red, 2007) was the result of that jazzy album, "After that, I wanted to make a record sunny, because I had to redo what I do best: cheerful English pop. In music I know is doing something reasonably well. Another way people my age and that blues groups, saying they want to return to the roots. I can not see how five teachers of geography that they try to play like old black musicians to return to their roots, but in the end. My roots were the English pop singles I grew up. I'm not excited about the folk, or know how to dance, and I'm not Irish, nor smart enough to play jazz. So do what I do. One must do what he knows, and talk about what he knows. I am not writing a song about Route 66, because I've never been there. Could do on the A12, but I know it's very boring. "
recording sessions
A Summer Tamarind lasted twenty days, and most first or second takes, "And there we leave." For this record, Martin has been assisted in the production of Carl Seager
engineer, also helping the low and guitar on some songs and dealing in all, the battery ("It is one of the real thing).
As here one also has its weaknesses, the first thing that stands out is "The Golden Afternoon" by the exercise of jangly. Ugh! Which are often intertwined and Carl Martin Seager mark at the end with the ringing guitars of vice! Nothing more than this, worthwhile. The best thing is that they are right who say it can question the best album from Martin Newell The Greatest Living Englishman
. "Cinnamon Blonde," "You Made It Rain", "A Summer Tamarind" ... Hmm, very nearly so, uh ...
And so it goes, with his love of rural life in small towns and anger in English before his disappearance. In
Fiu!, Look At That Old leaves his portrait of older people "still rock out when it should remain politely nodding."
of how to summarize this history as a unique blend of idealism and independence
Martin writes now in the East Anglia Daily Times
-after ten years so in
The Independent - the newspaper of his county, on issues she knows well. Because only be created when there is interest in something, when you have the consciousness of "having something to say."
still publishing books, the last,
A Prospect Of Wivenhoe , a series of stories and memories about his people.
is difficult not to appreciate Martin Newell and see it as a rare example of honesty in the world of the arts. Idealism and independence that are foreign to in the independent music scene. This man could provide some needed lessons about honesty, fallibility, critical thinking and understanding, all treated with humor. George Orwell
said, speaking specifically about Dickens, a really funny joke always has an idea behind it, and usually a subversive idea. That emotional perception that something is wrong, and the nostalgia it brings, coupled with a natural generosity of spirit that serves as an anchor to keep "almost always" in place, forms the inspirational teaching that remains along the race this child genius, of this "murderer hortocultural" able to express in a comic -And therefore memorable, Dickens-like, natural decency of the common man. "The vagueness of his discontent goes against an expression of the human face" (the latter as Chesterton said, but I'm not sure about Dickens or Martin Newell. Same goes for both).
But hell, enough of so solemn! It is quite antinewelliano, so less talk and have someone come and ask if you have the strength, another round to continue providing and say everything with a good drink. Powerful
exhibition for the proposition that the way of recognition is not as smooth as a railroad
Even
is to reflect another of those happy accidents that manage to keep faith in poetic justice, with little to show himself. Better late than never:
One day, our dear Martin arrived at the Abbey Road studios, and passing through the studio door number 1 decided to take a look. There was a man named Peter Long
leading an orchestra of sixty musicians, making arrangements for those songs versioned by Richard Shelton. At the end of the pieces, they invited Martin to happen and make it known among musicians as the composer of that music. "To my astonishment, I bowed their instruments and I applauded. For once, I was stunned, not knowing what to say. I almost cried. "
Nobody's going to wait now that Martin taking your career seriously. A good hours! He still thinks that the greatest satisfaction at the time of writing and recording an album is "a few beers later. Three pints after a good recording session. There is nothing better. "
Appendix
- Who is your greatest living English, Martin?
- "Sir George Martin. They do not make models like this. "
Appendix (II)
" On occasion I have spoken with Nelson about the possibility of recreating this bike tour, once again making the same trip as a tribute. "
Appendix (III)
Go! Have you finished? Anyone for a beer?
This disc lost of 1972 may be responsible for an immediate and unmitigated joy, a pleasure as a warm sunny day in a cold, intense and fertile well, almost like a stream of fresh water when we thirsty. Its creators: neither more nor less than Marilyn and Diane Rovell , sisters, the first wife of Brian Wilson (this starts to get interesting), the second, her lover and crush said. Conspirators, directing, choosing arrangements and songs, Brian Wilson found himself at the height of twilight, in one of his last and before surrendering to shine for many years to his mental illness. And the result is a wonderful album of folky surface and autumn colors, but you can not avoid an explosion of pop glory in each of its corners, faithful to the ideal that Brian had pursued all his life. 
American Spring, who in the early sixties and had been laboratory experiments under the name Brian The Honeys , achieve on this album the original absolutely miracle to reach the gold with an image pop and folk clothes. "Tennessee Waltz" the first song, you can fool the most distracted, being also the most roots among its ingredients, but we started to see some tracks, some vocals that slip surreptitiously aqueous sounds immediately remind us of the fluffy corner of Beach Boys , in short, just enough to be suspicious. But of course, talking to Brian the trap could not last long, and there's "Thinkin 'Bout You Baby", composed by himself in the sixties. It is noted that this issue had always liked mostly because of the generous amount of times recorded: first with Sharon Marie in a style fully spectoresque, also with the Beach Boys own soul within the heat Wild Honey, and several times later in his solo concerts . Here, in a sensibility that has clear similarities with an album of Tapestry Carole King , this song of pure love gains strength and simplicity. Follow. The pristine production of Brian is joined by a great selection of songs result of its exquisite taste, and here comes "Mamma Said" the Shirelles , deconstructed in an addictive folk-pop festival. And another great song we all remember for the endearing Carpenters so exciting when they gave in the target: "Superstar" sounds here rotund, short, appropriate and absolutely brilliant in his change of pace before a refrain that marked an era. 
The beginning is brilliant, but further development. Wilsonian box of surprises continues to amaze, "Awake" roots country recovers a keyboard wrapped in crystal and a voice just perfect, melancholy spring to adorn relaxed and reflective moments. "Sweet Mountain" sounds like a song from Surf's Up for its dark tone between child, the arrangements here and are purely to Brian Wilson, as if his Smile would have been a reality and a turning point in the history of music. In "Everybody" folk tone is withdrawn, because in fact this is a version of Tommy Roe interpreted by the Beach Boys with female vocals, no other way to explain it. The greening is going to wake up to "This Whole World", one of the brightest jewels of Sunflower , sung here with parsimony and a delicate intimacy. And attentive, emotional summit: "Forever" by Dennis Wilson , which does not sound so defeatist and epic as when Dennis sang it in Sunflower , but even optimistic and bright Wilsonian pure naivete. The essence of the beach boys continue to reign in "Good Time", which appear much later in the album "Love You" (1977), sung by Al Jardine , but here's another little masterpiece, a symphony pocket to make the happy days, and another sample of the great ability to unite Wilson extravagant parties in a sensational all. 
"Now That Everything's Been Said" is more pop, like everything else in this record, a version of a song forgotten Carole King with his fleeting group The City direct, focused on being catchy and immediate , thanks devastating the beautiful voices with which Brian had. And "Down Home" persists even in the obsession with Carole King, this time with her then-husband Gerry Goffin . A delicate sample of more rants sleek pop instrumental and vocal harmonies of pure lineage Smile (you sure was a hard frustrated?). Beautiful, deep and smooth as a calm sea. And, of course, my favorite, "Shyin 'Away", which concentrates the best thing Brian Wilson ever did, three minutes of pure pleasure and to strategically forgotten folkie sound, a melody witty, able to excite, offering everything You may be asked to pop up. Tireless, innocent, magical. All ready to be impossible not to give ourselves the disk with "Fallin 'In Love", another track defeated Dennis, sung in whispers off with a bundle of chamber pop that makes it unbeatable. More genius: "It's Like Heaven" and its chorus from bells that signal the arrival of paradise. Or just an album of legend: "Had To Phone Ya", which is another song Smile mold, circular, imaginative, with a dreamy tone, perhaps the most Brian Wilson on a disc already definitely Wilsonian, and in any case the best way to end a masterpiece choose from different costumes for the final sticking to pop. Before 
