Arthur And Martha - Navigation

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5...according to our Brian on Thu 30 Jul, 2009.

A long wait since the 7" of 'Autovia', so much so that I can't quite suss out whether Arthur & Martha have re-recorded that classic slice of pulsating motorik pop genius for 'Navigation', their debut album. Former Saloon member Adam & the lovely Alice Hubley make a dynamite match, her girl-next-door vocal style totally suiting their hugely authentic Kraftwerkian electronica, swirling Factory inspired tunes & warm 80's flecked electro pop. 'Kasparov' changes tack slightly, a heartfelt tribute to the likes of The Field Mice and The Wake, Adam's lead vocal here reminding me of the Sarah glory days, the folkse-y guitars mingling beautifully with some humble electronic flecks & an effortless drum machine, that classic glacial keyboard acts like a velvet drape swooping all over the tune & a quiet scratchy guitar motors in half way whilst the bassline makes me wanna cry. A total beaut! They've constructed a really diverse album, taking in quite hardy, familiar sounds from years gone by & forging fresh, durable, feisty songs that stick in your head like audio glue, putting a smile on this man's face for ooooh, maybe the second time this week! It's a wonderful journey, spanning decades of inspiration, largely built around analogue-soaked cool European anthems whilst simultaneously offering up some sturdy, modern dancefloor friendly action with remarkable finesse. Get this, it's a total winner!

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‘a British spin on The Postal Service, or Aphex Twin remixing the contents of the seminal C86 album…lovely stuff’ NME

After three years in the making, Happy Robots are proud to announce the release of ‘Navigation’ the debut album from Arthur and Martha. Those three years have been tumultuous ones; in which the band battled personal demons driven by the loss of loved ones and broken relationships. Yet the band remained resolute throughout, a fact which is reflected in the innocent charm, and upbeat nature, of these 10 new songs. Arthur and Martha are Adam Cresswell and Alice Hubley. As Arthur and Martha they employ all manner of kiddies instruments, moogs and old-school drum machines to build their songs. The album itself ranges from the bleak M83-esque moodiness of the title track to the kraut rock stomp of live favourite ‘Squarewave to Heaven’. The album features an extended version of the band’s debut single ‘Autovia’ and forthcoming foamy pop hit ‘Music for Hairproducts’. Arthur & Martha’s debut single ‘Autovia’ received rave reviews from the likes of the NME and Artrocker and multiple Radio 1 plays from Huw Stephens. The band built on this success, gigging with the likes of Lo-Fi Fnk, Grovesnor, Plastic Operator, Sportsday Megaphone and others. The band are flattered to have been compared to Kraftwerk, Add N to X, Pet Shop Boys and Soft Cell. Preceding the album, is the new single ‘Music for Hair Products’ due for a digital release on the 15th June. The Arthur and Martha live experience is a sensory treat, featuring some of the aforementioned collection of old synths and playground instruments, complimented by electronic beats and live projections. More shows are planned for Summer 2009 to coincide with the album release.

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