The Martinis - 'Smitten' (Distracted / BMG)
4/5
By: Thomas Hannan
Husband and wife combos - it's enough to stop you reading this article right now, isn't it? Well, do if you must, but you pal would miss out on a pretty great record. The man of the house here is a certain Joseph Alberto Santiago, and if you don't recognise that name then run and find a copy of the Pixies' 'Surfer Rosa' and listen to that first guitar note. The fact that one-half of this wedded couple is responsible for that, the noise that started a million (lesser) bands, is itself reason enough to care.
Cease your worrying, because although 'Smitten' features an unintentional plug for 'Cupid's Wedding Chapel' on its cover, there's nothing twee or lovey-dovey about it whatsoever. With a guitar tone that still sounds quite this wounding even when backing more straightforward little pop songs than we're used to, it was never really going to be. Joe's other half Linda Mallari is something of a siren - one who certainly seems to have studied at the book of Kim Deal herself, but whereas with Kim you envisage a cute smile at the end of every line, Mallari seems more likely to let out a wicked cackle (like that of the brilliant opener 'Flyer' for instance). There's more here than you'd expect from your usual side-project excursion.
If this was a new Pixies record, it'd be rapturously received. As it is, it'll probably be little more than a curiosity to all but a few people, which is something of a shame. For now, Santiago has reclaimed his spiritual home on a stage to the right of a Black Francis, in front of a Lovering, and is off playing incredible shows for probably shameful amounts of money all over the world. Realistically, what are the chances of another Martinis record (or another Frank Black/Breeders LP for that matter) hitting the shelves? We can but ponder what would have happened if he had stuck with the missus instead...
Well, if it was the mid-nineties, they'd have had it made. Anyone who has ever loved Throwing Muses, The Violent Femmes or Belly would lap this up. In this day and age though, whilst some other music the mister has been involved in still sounds as if it was recorded yesterday, 'Smitten' is a little out of place. But this needn't be a quandary, as what makes it so charming is how it seems so at odds with itself. Is it a pop record ('Out Upon The Road'), a slab of straight-up indie (the brilliant 'Right Behind You'), an alt-country experiment ('New Scene'), is Mallari meant to take centre stage as she does on 'You Are The One', or should Joey's guitar-squall be at the forefront a la 'Flyer'?
There are no answers to these questions. 'Smitten' itself is about as close as we get, because it can do all those things and manage to sound both comfortable and indecisive at once. In the grand scheme of things, it's unlikely to knock any socks off feet, but shall certainly brighten a couple of days, that is if you can overlook the minor flaw that track-running issues leave a slight deflated feeling towards the conclusion. Everything from 'Walls Of Silence' onwards could make a great track to finish a record on, which leaves the latter third lagging somewhat behind the sweet aural attack of what preceded it. It takes a little too long to build to a climax that never really happens, as proceedings actually end on the plaintive piano ballad 'Into The Meadow', Mallari taking centre-stage with Santiago nowhere to be seen.
To wish that it had a bit more menace would probably simultaneously involve a yearning that there was some bitter marital difficulty in the Santiago household, which would be just a little too callous. But when they do menace, they shine, when they're content to tap their feet, they're merely pleasant. For now, we'll accept that, and wish the continuation of their beautiful music together.
Artists in this article: The Martinis
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment