Germany
Rock Times

Janet Martin / Passage
Running time: 32:20
Format: CD
Label: Nectarine Records, 2009
Style: Roots Music, Blues Rock

Review from 03/10/2010
Joachim 'Joe' Brookes

This woman has charm!

Janet Martin has seven tours to Europe under her belt and the next series of concerts on the European continent is definitely set for June and July of 2010 "Passage" is in her luggage and ready for the continent.
Hopefully, well see her many times in the future because the music of Janet Martin is very diverse but steeped in blues and Americana.

Janet is in no way conventional. The blues feeling and sentiment can be packed into a singer / songwriter delivery; as the Travel On song from her first tour here in 2003 song shows she can also rock out!
Martin has served us a cocktail with many ingredients.
The woman makes me fuzzy with her broad range of skills. Where rousing Americana / Roots Music begins on Passage it ends in full blown Blues Rock. The ingredients having been added with flair and a pinch of sizes and it fit like a fist to the eyeball; this has been often quoted.
"Passage" has got something for Blues fans, if they can take themselves out of the cotton field and really listen to this womens music; take heart, you will not be disappointed. Frankly; if you look at the tracks "Running" and "Snakebit," written by Kathi McDonald / Bill Parker sounds, one cannot believe that this is one and the same singer that stands before the microphone. What a touching song, the scene is great and yet still happy thats drives you to a musical environment is one, because I she only write it.
The blues is our constant companion through a little more than a half-hour playing time.
Although the opener "Purple Sunrise" is more in the singer / songwriter feel; Sunrise has a wonderfully bluesy slide guitar. 7th Story High is buoyed by an acoustic guitar and cello with guest by Ken Woodward who plucks the upright bass; I really like Purple Sunrise.
 
Slide guitar we hear now. Its Michael Mullers turn to play not only slide on Medicine but a bright light puzzle of beautiful bass lines against a relaxed groove on Medicine
Confectionary Queen has a special atmosphere; even if the track goes by in less than three minutes, there is a wonderful rendezvous with guitars and a great play by Hammond master Steve Bassett .

"Under The Radar" is straight to the point. The beginning rocks hard and the end of the number closes with a sweet acoustic guitar/vocal. What a catchy chorus Janet has here? The song settles in the rafters of the minds gray cells.
After a very strong arranged ballad "Running" it is a little low for my plate its "Real World" with the chorus that turned out to be sweet, even if we must admit that instruments manufactures all of the voices.
 
"7 th Story High "is a warm ballad with cello-Roots and Piano. The track runs off with a lotus blossom effect and depth.

"Holy Water" is a change to Blues Rock; a tricky rhythm draws a distorted electric guitar in the lanes at the end,
 
"Where Does The Time Go?" again makes it clear how good the songwriting is.

Finally, the house rocked Snakebit
 
Janet Martin - "Passage" is entertaining and varied. What more do you want as a music consumer?