Martinoia, Julien: The Insight

Julien Martinoia is a self-taught French musician who has been around for a while now having recently released his fourth solo album The Insight. Martinoia does everything himself so this is most definitely a one man band and for the most part he does a pretty good job. The music is mostly mood laden rock with progressive undertones in the form of varying song dynamics, changes in tempo and solid musicianship. The biggest challenge I think with being only one musician is not sounding like it and in this regard the artist is mostly successful.

The songs are very moody, often venturing from softer soundscapes to more heavier sound palettes where the razor like guitar riffs cut through with biting clarity. Martinoia has a pretty unique voice sometimes singing in a plaintive monotone style or with more emotion, depending on the song's mood. The tracks can mostly be considered as melodic/edgy rock with progressive moments sprinkled here and there. Highlights include the moody slice of melancholy that is "Never Go Back Home" and the pulsating bass underlying the edgy rock of "No Destination". "The Road" is another intriguing listen starting as a mournful piano/vocal ballad with subtle orchestral swells before the intensity level increases with more heavier guitar riffs before ending the way it began, on a mellower note.

My one complaint is the sometimes thin production but given this is just one artist the results are pretty decent. The Insight is a good album, just not a great one.

Track Listing:
1. Leave You Now (7:34)
2. Never Go Back Home (6:18)
3. No Destination (6:48)
4. The Road (6:14)
5. My Victory (6:08)
6. It Can't Be Enough (4:35)
7. Earthquake (5:56)
8. Warm Wind (6:33)
9. I'm Fading (6:49)
10. Already The End (5:02)

Added: March 18th 2016
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1535
Language: english

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