Reviewed by Tony Cummings

This Nottingham-based muso isn't to be confused with Marc James of Vineyard UK and Verra Cruz renown. Mark has written, played, sung, produced and engineered all the nine tracks on this album. Considering its ambition it's pretty impressive with Mark offering electro-tinged pop rock on the first cut "We Steal People" followed by a moody slower song "Opinion" and the most acoustic delivered "I Believe In The Lord" all registering. In fact, it's the latter song with its South American-tinge which works best with the too repetitive run out on the opening song and the drum loop doesn't seem to fit "Opinion"'s melody. There's no doubting Mark's versatility ('Studio 2' also features a ukulele and whistling song and a piece of electronica) but to my mind more stylistic focus is needed for 'Studio 2' to be more than simply a talented jack-of-all-trades demonstrating his eclecticism.

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