Breaking ground with...
Everything has a lifespan. Unfortunately the same can be said for bands. It's often a very emotional split. The death of a band has a great effect on both band members and fans. Remember the helpline for suicidal fans after Robbie Williams left Take That? (Tee hee hee!)
Just occasionally though, the death of a band can be quite wonderful... it can mean the birth of another. In the manner of a dying star which scatters dust and debris around and from which is born a new star. Maritime is just such a star.
The Promise Ring never achieved Number 1 status, but for those in the know, they were around for a long time. 4 albums in fact. Ample time to cement the team-playing skills of singer-guitarist Davey von Bohlen and drummer Dan Didier. A prolific songwriter, von Bohlen, had so much material, that even when The Promise Ring were going full-pelt, he and Didier recorded 2 albums under the name Vermont.
When The Promise Ring eventually expired in the wake of the fabulous 2002's "Wood/Water" album, it was obvious that von Bohlen wouldn't be able to hang up his guitar and call it a day. So after having roped in ex-The Dismemberment Plan bassist, Eric Axelson, Maritime was conceived and an EP released to give us all a taste of what was to come.
And so, what was to come? Well this album, "Glass Floor". Definately reminiscent at moments of The Promise Ring's "Wood/Water", it's no wonder really. Davey von Bohlen is an articulate songwriter, able to ensure that even the most simple of melodies is loaded with emotion. Writing predominantly acoustically, I think that it is sometimes easy for music of this ilk to come out as sychophantic crap. Maritime manage to keep it all tastefully sentimental without coming across as twee. This is especially true of tracks such as "A Night Like This".
Anyhow, there is a lovely contrast between the more slow and touching numbers and the light-hearted and upbeat songs like "Adios". A motif that connects the two different styles are the fun brass sections and subtle strings. This support reinforces the kind of shakey vulnerability in von Bohlen's voice.
Von Bohlen is a lot like a modern day Burt Bacharach. These songs are timeless as they neither conform to the current trend, nor sound outdated. Great lyrics, with such hit-the-nail-on-the-head statements as "someone has to die, to make room for you and I". But that vulnerability in his voice makes him sound like he's a bit wet. The kind of guy that you wouldn't want to flirt with as he'd take it to be a sign of true love. You'd break his heart and destroy a man like that in seconds, and that kind of stuff plays havoc with a girl's conscience. Anyhow, he's probably a good guy judging by the overall sound of the album.
In the words of The Fast Show, "Mmmm Nice!".