Idaho could be called a one-man band. Jeff Martin co-founded the band with John Berry in the late 80’s but didn’t release their first full length Year After Year on Caroline Records, now part of Astralwerks, until 1993 with Mark Lewis and Vincent Signorelli of Unsane a relatively unknown lower east side noise rock band. Since then a mixed cast has played along with Martin, including Joey Waronker of Walt Mink and Lewis and Terry Borden of Flotilla. Given the contrast between these other musicians interests and his own, its no wonder Martin gave up some authorial control over the song writing on Three Sheets to the Wind finding that it was impossible to teach the others to play the songs the way he wanted them. But in Martin’s new release The Lone Gunman, (street date Oct 25th), recorded over the past three years by himself with engineer Bill Sanke, he has left behind his old band and his guitar for a vintage Wurlitzer and more aurally subtle eno-esque soundscapes. Sounding more like dream pop at times than indie rock, Martin’s delicate, hushed vocals blend with lush neo-classical organs and synths to make his 10th album a standout. Also of note, Jeff Martin is located in Los Angeles, but hasn’t played a show here since 2002. Given the studio-generated nature of the album, it may be difficult to reproduce the songs in a live venue, but we can hope for a show in LA sometime soon. If not on the stage, then he can be heard on NBC’s new sitcom, Inconceivable starring Law and Order’s Angie Harmon. fansite.
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I actually remember Unsane pretty well because of their album covers. I had no idea there was any connection between them and Idaho.
Here’s another one for you. Joey Waronker also played with Spain, Josh Hayden’s former band on “She Haunts my Dreams”. Hayden’s triplet sisters, including the Decemberists Petra, were involved in this band, though not on that album. Those musicians get around.