2015 – Samantha Martin
Music
By Phillip Smith;
Feb 28, 2015
The new album from Toronto-based
recording artists Samantha Martin and Delta
Sugar is sure to draw a lot of attention and adoration. Boasting a clever mix of blues, roots,
country and gospel music, Send the Nightingale
is absolutely compelling. With vocals
that fall into the same wheelhouse as Janis
Joplin, Martin takes command of
each song. Guitarist Mikey McCallum, along with backing
vocalists Sherie Marshall and Stacie Tabb, form Delta Sugar.
Martin’s
influences are also nicely rooted in Sixties soul music as well. Kicking off with a light rhythm reminiscent of
Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher
Man”, is “Addicted”, a proclaiming song of love, and a soulful joyous
treat. The mood suddenly drops on “When
You Walk Away”, a heart wrenching song about splitting up. McCallum
on guitar, brings to mind Steve Cropper’s
playing on ”(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay”.
Martin performs
“One More Day” with the energy and unbridled exuberance of a gospel band in a southern
tent revival. Complete with obligatory stomps
and clap, it’s cloaked in a rootsy and rustic vibe. To this song, I say “Amen brothers and sisters!”
The song that sticks with me the most though
is “Don’t Shoot”. I absolutely love it. Martin,
like Lucinda Williams, just has an
uncanny knack for writing great story-telling songs that rock with a country/western
flair.
Excellent songwriting, powerful
vocals, fantastic harmonies, and expert musicianship, make Send the Nightingale the wonderful album it is.
