Edoff; Martina: Unity

A singer previously associated with the likes of Dr Alban, E-Type and The Poodles, it's possibly the last in that list which alludes at least slightly, towards the direction Martina Edoff has taken with her second solo album, Unity. Aided by producer and keyboard player Jona Tee (and various other members of Tee's band H.e.a.t), Edoff has delivered possibly the best melodic hard rock album of 2015. The front-woman's vocal power and style a hand in glove fit for a set of songs that take no time in burrowing deep into your skull and which stand up incredibly well to repeat scrutiny.

It's a simple blueprint and one, truth be told, that's been relied on many, many times and yet pack an album with chorus heavy tracks, infuse them with energetic keyboard bursts and stinging guitar solos, and hey presto, you have, with the right person delivering those choruses, a reason to take notice. Edoff is that person, her rich voice landing somewhere between Robin Beck and Shania Twain, yet somehow with even more depth and clarity than either. That's some statement, but throughout, this experienced, but criminally unknown singer proves time and again what a talent she is. The believability behind every vocal on this album it's true strength and that's taking into account the fact that the songs stand tall and proud on their own merits.

Kicking off with the energetic surge of the title track, the insistent beat and dramatic keys spark wildly off powering guitars to have you convinced from the off. However that "Never Let You Down" adds a slice of almost symphonic power without toppling into self important bombast, is the second real hint that we might just have something special on our hands. "World Has Gone Mad" and "Love Keeps Turning Away" head down a House Of Lords path of pomp rock, before "Come Alive" arrives, bursting with a shove of energy that's been making (unsurprisingly) H.e.a.t one of MHR's hottest properties right now.

You'd be shocked if an album of this nature didn't have a ballad of power somewhere in its armoury and "Moment Of Truth" proves the much maligned format can still excite in the right hands (and voice). Although unlike many female fronted releases in this genre, it isn't a style used often, "This Love Is Crazy" pulsating to an energetic beat as "Caught In The Middle" pounds and throbs for all its worth – and it's worth a lot! However catchiest track status is reserved for the unforgettable pair, "Sound Of Thunder", a semi-acoustic keyboard backed chorus of wonder, and the magnificent "I Am Mining", which you'll be singing for days after – something everyone I've played it to has done so far!

For all that the songs are stellar, the defining feature of this album remains the vocal prowess of its main protagonist, Martina Edoff; her performance announcing her as one of the best female singers – dang it, singer of any gender – the genre has produced. One of those albums that comes out of left-field and knocks you for six, Unity should be simply be titled Triumph.

Track Listing
1. Unity                     
2. Never Let You Down  
3. World Has Gone Mad         
4. Spirit Of Light                 
5. Come Alive               
6. I Am Mining         
7. Love Keeps Turning Away  
8. Moment Of Truth        
9. Sound Of Thunder      
10. This Love Is Crazy         
11. Caught In The Middle 

Added: January 9th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Martina Edoff online
Hits: 3013
Language: english

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