Magna Carta — Martin’s Cafe
Martin’s Cafe was the 8th album from London based project Magna Carta -who seemingly stared off life as a prog rock, but over time mellowed & easy back to become what we have here, which really has little or nothing progressive about.
The album offers up eleven slices of mostly laid-back & tuneful guitar based music, which finds a often harmony layered blend of country, light rock, folk, 70’s guitar based pop. For a British band they sound very American here- adding in elements such pedal steel guitar, boogie woogie piano, smoky harmonica lines, amassed male & female harmonies, and often a US setting/theme to the tracks. The pace moving from up-beat & gentle foot tapping, through to more laid-back & twanging acoustic guitar lined, onto urgent yet easy blends of electric/acoustic guitar.
The reissue comes in a clear jewel case, and this features a fold-out six panel inlay sleeve. This takes in a three page write-up about the album & the band at the time from key songwriter & vocalist Chris Simpson. As well as credits/ track listings.
To take a title from one of the tracks here, the album Won’t Set The World On Fire- but what it does do is offers up a highly enjoyed & memorable collection of American hued pop-rock, which nicely mixes together country, folk, rock flavours.