aaamusic | On 05, Feb 2012

Man on the Ground is the second LP by Mike Marlin, singer-songwriter from London. His voice has often been compared to David Bowie’s and the resemblance is definitely there on This Town, the second song on the record, but everywhere else is perhaps best described as a British version of Matt Berninger. The range of influences is great but the unifying thread of the album is ultimately Marlin’s love for a pop song of deep sentiment. Steve McQueen is an almost desperate ode to the late icon, which tackles the devastating nature of young death, and Lost and Found – opening with the line “I’m looking for answers through the eyes of a child” – layers piano and guitars to dramatic effects, which nicely sums up the heartfelt atmospheres of the record. Echoes of The National, musically and lyrically, can be heard in Hymn to Disappointment, possibly the best song on the album: a frank and disillusioned account on relationships done and dusted. Tracks like this, of unadulterated authenticity, are the highlights of the record and the most successful examples of Marlin’s songwriting. So while there are times when his penchant for pathos results in over-the-top moments, the record overall is heartfelt in a mature, elegant and wistful way.

 

Chiara Amoretti