Reviewed by Andrew Rolfe

Marty's target audience is the Church. His mission, chosen to be accepted aged 15, is "just trying to go along with what (God) might want me to do, and learn." He started writing lyrics and acoustic guitar-based songs at Bible college and spent the '80s and '90s working a bread and butter job hitting the road with solo concerts at weekends, a pattern which I think has extended into the new millennium. Based in Michigan, USA, Marty says his "concerts are very honest, open and human." This album continues the theme. It's full of feelings, the bad as well as the good. Against a backdrop of high class musicianship and post-production Marty tackles many life issues such as emotionally-absent fathers, love, trusting and of course sandcastles. Songs also focus on Jesus' sacrifice and the spiritual war. The general feel of the album is soft rock/pop and ballad. Electric guitar solos give place to mandolins and violins, pianos merge into trumpet and sax; the music style is interestingly varied and I'm sure also features instruments not mentioned on the album cover. Marty provides the main vocals (sometimes I was reminded of Phil Keaggy, although I think Marty sings better) and female backing vocals add a pleasing contrast. The songs have pace and hold attention. In no time I was humming along. "Every Promise Will Come True" has a feel of The Corrs from time to time with a lilting Irish-esque violin. "Sandcastles" has one of those floodgate choruses that relieves the pent up expectation built in the verse. Marty has a number of things in the pipeline, not least putting together a band. He is a talented singer/songwriter, and goes a long way to showing the good things that lower key artists can do without the dollars of the big boys.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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