I have been raving about Marla Mase’s superb new album Half-Life since I heard it a month before its release last week, and, indeed, dubbed it the first great album of 2014. And you were just stuck taking my word for it. But no more.
Officially released last week, it is now available on Itunes and on Spotify and I can’t recommend this mix and match of spoken word and new wave highly enough: it is like this place where Chrissie Hynde and Patti Smith (not to mention Karen Finlay, so I won’t, though sexual frankness runs deep).
Indeed, fans such as myself might be forgiven for considering a major breakthrough, an album which while owing to art rockers everywhere seems to have the possibility of mainstream breakthrough about it. The title track alone is something you will find real hard to beat even in a world of Lydia Loveless’s and Angel Olsen’s.
The PR stuff goes like this: “NYC’s own True Groove Records is proud to announce Marla Mase’s new album, “Half-Life” to be released Tuesday, February 25, 2014 worldwide. Marla, an alternative, post modern rock artist, best known for her provocative performance style and intelligent lyrics has joined Tomás Doncker’s Global Soul Movement at True Groove Records. After last year’s triumphant tours in China and in Europe for her acclaimed ‘Speak’ album (The Huffington Post said, “…perhaps Marla’s fiesty message of peace will wake up the beast in all of us) and her multi-media performance concert ‘SPEAK’ at NYC Summerstage, Marla received a ‘Messenger of Peace’ award from the Friends of the UN for her visionary work as a songwriter and performer. Yet again, legendary ikonoklast producer/bassist Bill Laswell makes an appearance on “Half-Life” playing bass on “The Heart Beats” (he did a dubmix of her song “AnnaRexia” from her Speak Deluxe album.)”
On Tuesday March 11 you can watch her perform a couple of songs as a member of the True Groove All Stars at the Cutting Room. And right now stream it or buy it but hear Half-Life.
