Wanting to achieve a more organic sound with no digital sounds this 12 song album was recorded at Hebden Bridge Studios Linden Mill Hebden. The songs are a mixture of written by Martin, co writes and one cover of a Welsh song written by Catrin Gerallt who also co wrote a couple of the other songs. It is a mixture of styles from r’n’b, jazz influenced and folk with top local vocalists including Steve Tilston, http://www.stevetilston.com, and Des Horsfall, http://www.deshorsfall.com. 

After Companion Gal which, though released, was overtaken by the fact that BMG bought RCA and the lesser known artists were deleted from their plans. So the DIY approach was taken and based on a live band that was working the arts centre circuit during the 90’s this 15 song album was recorded. Again all the original songs were co written by Martin and Helen, https://www.helenwatson.net/. 

There are also a couple of interesting reworkings of Nina Simone and Billie Holiday songs. Produced and arranged by Martin and Helen.

After the EMI deal Helen Watson got a deal with RCA and this 12 song album was recorded at Rockfield Studios Monmouthshire produced by Bob Andrews, best know as producer of the La’s – http://www.neworleanspiano.com/

Again Martin co-wrote all but one of the songs with Helen. Andy Fairweather Low,http://andyfairweatherlow.com/ featured more on this album and Martin and Andy featured on the acoustic track Manners.

A speedy follow up to Blue Slipper recorded again at A&M Studios this 11 song album had the same production team and set of players as Blue Slipper with the addition of

Andy Fairweather Low – http://andyfairweatherlow.com/

Bernie Leadon, – http://www.bernieleadononline.com/ – Eagles

Martin co-wrote all the songs with record artist Helen Watson on this her debut album and the first of the four albums they wrote together.

Recorded at A&M Studios Los Angeles one of the many pleasures of being involved in this project was to meet and hear an A list of West Coast based musicians such as:

Steve Lukather – http://www.stevelukather.com – Toto axeman

Michael Landau – https://mikelandau.com/ – Joni Mitchell guitarist

Bill Payne – https://billpaynecreative.com/ – keyboards Little Feat

Richie Hayward – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Hayward – drummer Little Feat and Robert Plant

Paul Barrere – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Barrere – guitarist Little Feat

Jerry Donahue – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Donahue – guitarist Joan Armatrading

George Hawkins – https://www.knowyourbassplayer.com/bass-players-blog/2017/3/2/george-hawkins-jr

Pulling the strings was Producer, Glyn Johns – http://glynjohns.com/ –  who was involved in so many of the iconic recordings of the 60’s and 70’s.

This recording was the first time the Little Feat musicians had played together since the creative main man, Lowell George had passed. For those that have Little Feat interests, it was amazing to find that Richie Hayward was at the time on his uppers, unemployed, turning up at the studio in a beat up old gas guzzler, drums in the back and NO Roadie! All the other session guys had their batmen to hand.

This is the second EP that Catrin Gerallt has recorded with Northlight, featuring 4 original songs in Welsh. They range from folk rock to classic ethereal Welsh folk, produced and arranged by Northlight at Hebden Bridge Underground Studios.

Hebden Bridge based 844s play original r’n”b, rock style material. with the occasional cover such as the classic Black Night, made famous by Charles Brown in 1951. This 5 song EP shows the range of their material and is a good sample of their now extensive back catalogue of songs. Plenty more where these come from.

This is the first collaboration between Catrin Gerallt and Northlight. Catrin is known in Wales as a writer and broadcaster who works in both English and Welsh. This EP features original and traditional songs from Wales and Ireland

The original Notes on Desire, full album, was recorded, mixed and mastered in a wholly analogue studio and we felt that there were tunes that might benefit from a review. So we took 4 and give them a lick of paint which we think was time well spent!

A second EP again recorded with Steve and Wally again using the name The Happy Valley Collective. Just 2 original songs from Martin on this, one a new song , New Time and Place and a re working of an older song From The Top.

This EP was recorded with local musos and friends Steve Andrews and Richard “Wally” Woodcock, aka https://unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com/ This was Martins first serious engagement with recording work for so many years. Recorded under the name of The Happy Valley Collective. Produced and arranged by Martin the EP has 4 songs all co written with friend Wally who engineered the recording. Steve provided many of the musical contributions.