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The acoustic playing on Deep Blue is subtle, the voice isn’t. It’s a gravely, definitely Welsh voice which hits like a sledgehammer live and is done real justice on the album.

Deep Blue has a great live feel created by keeping studio dialogue in with the tracks which span from outraged to touching, tender and religious.

For the most part Joseph is a protest singer (as in ‘Yet Still This Will Not Last’) and by far the most stand-out track is ‘Proud Valley Boy’ which could be an alternative anthem for Wales. ‘Proud Valley Boy’ maps the amazing relationship between the bass singer and activist Paul Robeson and the Welsh miners, their ‘defender in the rain’ and is as stirring as any great protest song should be.

‘How Did We End Up Here’ has something distinctly Steve Knightley about it, something a little Mark Knopfler, and is a damning and moving commentary on the dark side of modern life. The image of god banging his head against the wall is one which stands out a mile.

Martyn Joseph is a Welsh force to be reckoned with and his latest album worth going out of your way for.

Deep Blue is released on Pipe Records and Martyn Joseph plays the Purcell Rooms at London’s Royal Festival Hall on March 14.

Links:
www.martynjoseph.co.uk
Paul Robeson entry on Wikipedia.