Marla Mase - Half Life (True Groove Records)

Marla Mase is back with her new release, Half Life, and has now signed with True Groove Records. The EP is a follow up to last year’s full-length SPEAK Deluxe, and Mase delivers more of her unique take on 70’s New York art proto-punkers like Patti Smith, Television, and David Byrne. Although shorter than her last album, Half-Life is song for a song a stronger release, and Mase channels more of the Talking Heads this time around, taking a lot of well-observed notes from Byrne. Half-Life will be released on February 25th, and is definitely worth checking out.

As with everything by Mase, her lyrics are not only the strongest thing here, but also the selling point. This is no more evident than on “The Heart Beats” which is actually spoken word, and it suggests the idea that Mase could pull off an entire spoken word album. “Drown In Blue” is another strong offering here, and is also the hardest song on the EP; the abrasive guitars perfectly suiting Mase’s lyrics. The jazzy “Hold Fast Your Dreams” is actually based upon the same-titled poem by Louise Driscoll.

Unfortunately, and it’s a reoccurring problem, is that Mase’s vocals and the supporting music seem at odds with one another at times. It’s as if they don’t or can’t stick to each other. Both are fine on their own, and both work well enough together, but the schism between the two can be noticeable. Luckily, both sides are so strong, as well as Mase’s lyrics, that it all stills works splendidly in the end, and the split ends up becoming a mere trifle compared to the comparative success of everything else. Half-Life is another fantastic offering, and if already a fan, it’s worth adding to your collection, or if a newcomer, it is a perfect introduction.