Uncommon Ground ^ Martha Berner

Martha Berner
With a wellspring of captivating songs that dig deep into the soul of American roots music, while also interjecting a distinct modern rock flavor, Chicago singer/songwriter Martha Berner has successfully melded old and new into a timeless collection of indie folk-rock on her full-length debut album entitled …this side of yesterday (to be released October 18, 2005 on Machine Records).

…this side of yesterday was recorded in Lexington, KY, as well as Lake Geneva and Madison, WI and co-produced by Duane Lundy, Todd Bowie and Grammy nominated Jake Johnson. While Martha is showcased as an accomplished vocalist, her talents are also evident on acoustic guitar, cornet and harmonica – which, at times, lend comparisons to Bob Dylan, Natalie Merchant and John Lennon’s post-Beatles material. Far from a solo project Martha has also incorporated a wealth of talented musicians who add vibrantly colored arrangements to songs that range from harrowing alt-country to upbeat folk-rock.

Maybe it’s her nomadic way of life (calling destinations such as Chicago, San Francisco, Alaska, Israel, the Virgin Islands, Thailand and Williams Bay, WI all home at some point) that lends such a worldly knowledge to both her thought-provoking lyrics and touching music. Or maybe it’s her lifelong passion for music (with influences as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Tori Amos and the Violent Femmes). But whatever the reason, the end result on …this side of yesterday is a wonderfully mature and engaging collection of music that manages to seduce all of the senses.

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