With lots of ‘funny stuff’…
ICONIC Guyanese remigrant singer Dave Martins released his latest album ‘At Home’ at the National Communications Network (NCN) Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown studio on Thursday last. He said several of the 12 songs in the new album, his first in six years, are very personal to him and were mostly recorded in Guyana.

In a recent release, Martins, who moved back here last year, said: “The album is important for a number of reasons. The main one is that it is an evolution of me as a songwriter, in that I am doing some new things rhythmically in the arrangements, as well as, conceptually, in the lyrics. Also, the songs deal more specifically with who we are as a people and they extol Caribbean culture.”

Living up to his humorous tradition, he promised that the new album contains lots of “funny stuff.”

Martins conceded, though, that there was some danger in making an album that was so culturally specific to Guyana as there were some references that would not be understood even in Caribbean countries, much less North America, citing words used in the lyrics, such as ‘patwa’ and ‘calabash’.

But he insisted that, in his trademark humour, even if the album sells five copies, it is still “o.k.”

The recording was done over a period of several weeks at Krosskolor Studio, also in the city, engineered and mixed by Burchmore Simon.

The latter said it portrays the real voice of Martins, an opinion with which the artiste, himself, agreed.

All the vocals are done by Martins and the instrumentals by nine local musicians. The featured musicians are from the established Tradewinds, Clive Rosteing, Jeff Japal, Harry Cupid and Richard Terry, who play in two songs.

The other 10 songs are the work of locals, Oliver Basdeo, Travis Griffith, Burchmore Simon, ‘Jai’ Sookram, Remo Bowen, ‘Spida’ Hopkinson, Sherwin Foo, Rosemary Noble, Roger Dyal and Trevor John.

Martins said the production confirms that good records can be produced here and that abundant talent exists locally to play any genre of music.

QUALITY

“My songs are in a variety of styles and the musicians were able to fit in beautifully with their accompaniment. These people can play. I think listeners are going to enjoy both the quality of the playing and the recording,” he added.

In addition to the conventional drums, keyboard and bass, ‘At Home’ accompaniment features trumpet, cello, tabla, saxaphone and cuatro, as well as extensive acoustic guitar work.

Martins expressed gratitude to Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) for its sponsorship and said the utility  have come a long way together.

In the release, GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), retired Major General Joe Singh was quoted as saying that the firm and Martins have long shared a commitment to the country, that loyalty to Guyana “is we own.”

“While we use different vehicles, the destination is the same, cultivating links, making connections, leading to a more developed Guyanese society,” Singh said.

Of the 12 songs on the album, 11 are original and one is a special surprise that is guaranteed to delight listeners.

The cover photograph, by Guyana Chronicle Chief Photographer Cullen Bess-Nelson, features a picture of Martins in a boat with the Stabroek Market as a backdrop.

Asked about his next move, Martins joked: “Going to sleep.”

The album will be available, initially, at Matt’s Record Bar in Regent Street and at Mike Charles’ Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri shop, before being put on sale in New York, in United States (U.S.) and Toronto, Canada.