Martyn Joseph
Album: Tires Rushing By In The Rain
Label: Pipe
Tracks: 17
Website: http://www.martynjoseph.net/

Martyn Joseph has recorded 17 Springsteen songs with just a guitar and some harmonica playing. This is very becoming for the the songs, especially for the well known ones as The River, Thunder Road or Walk like a Man. By the sparse instrumentation each song reveals its very own quality.

Joseph doesn't just sing them but he seems to feel what the songs are all about. Joseph's confidence in his own vocals is admirable, especially in the very last song, Surrender. Here the Mandolin picking is only very tender, it's hardly to be heard. So it really is his voice that carries the listener through the song. It works and it's very impressive.

For Springsteen fans "Tires Rushing By In The Rain" is of course an hommage and Joseph definitely does justice to the Boss here. For people that are no such big fans of Springsteen's music if this is allowed to be mentioned, it's a very good introduction to his unique songwriting. And for Martyn Jospeh Fans it's just an enjoyable prove of his musical abilities.

Dagmar Brudnitzki