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Martyr Privates’ Self Titled debut is a wash of grunge and slacker vibes filtered through the guitar and vocal of Ex Slug Guts member Cameron Hawes. With Luke Walsh of Blank Realm on board as producer, the album references sounds from the late 80’s and early 90’s UK underground with minor revelations.
“Someone’s Head” starts the set with some listless psych that seldom goes anywhere, though could have with some soul from Hawes. “You Can’t Stop Progress” stands as the album’s finest cut with it’s pre-chorus remaining one of MP’s strongest melodies on record. The combo of Ashleigh Shipton (bass) and Sam Dixon (drums) build the song to a much needed “high” and the video for the song directed by Nat Koyama, shouldn’t be overlooked either.
“Something To Sell” looks to repeat the success of “You Can’t Stop Progress” by mimicking it’s riffs and rhythms but the same payback is not afforded. “Yawning War” trades the brit-psych sounds of the album for a slack sound that’s been put to better use lately by Australian contemporaries Bitch Prefect and Scott and Charlene’s Wedding. “Rope and Tarp” takes a break to continue the tradition of The La’s “Looking Glass” with echoed guitars and wielding synths leading Martyr Privates to an almost awesome place before losing steam.
This album is by and large a let down. It’s promise of Spacemen 3 inspired psych invited high hopes and though comparisons are warranted, the conviction that is so prevalent in the works of Kember and Pierce is plainly absent here.
Authenticity is not achieved by simply plagiarizing the sounds and styles of the past but instead can be discovered by finding one’s own point of view through the investigation of the influential works of others.
