ART IS THE REMEDY

Art is precious to me. As far back as I can remember, I have been under its delicious spell. Whether it be painting, literature, drawing, poetry, sculpture, theatre, photography, dance or music, art – in all its forms – has inspired, encouraged and enriched my life. I can still recall as a young boy, marveling at the magical illustrations by Sir John Tenniel that adorned Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. I remember my extraordinary delight when reading C.S. Lewis’s allegorical fantasy, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” and I remember being profoundly moved by the stirring and beautiful hymns that I sang as a schoolboy in the English schools and churches. Right from the beginning, I was enchanted by creative expression, and today, as I write this, I can’t imagine my life deprived of art. When I have needed consolation for disappointment and sorrow, when I’ve needed a spark to motivate my footsteps forward, and when I have needed a balm to heal my fears and anxieties – art has been my medicine. Many times in my life, I have used the transforming strategy of creativity as a defense against despair. Oscar Wilde wrote: “It is through … art and art only that we can shield ourselves from the sordid perils of actual existence.”

I have always felt a certain reverence when entering art galleries, museums, theatres, concert halls and libraries, for in these places, something noble is revealed about the human spirit. Man’s psyche drops its fragile mask for a moment and allows itself to be seen naked by way of visions, representations, words, melodies, images and performances – be they disturbing or beautiful – that disclose the emotional inner landscape of the human condition. In these places, we are stimulated to dream, to question, to speculate and to ponder, and our imagination is asked to soar above the humdrum existence of our daily lives. Hopefully, when touched by man’s expression, a revolution occurs within us and our better nature becomes inspired. Art is the response of the living to life. It is, therefore, the record left by civilization. I am at my happiest and most-consumed when lost in the act of creating. And when writing, I am always searching to connect with some illusive transcendent beauty – a certain “beyondness”. To quote Oscar Wilde again, “Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, and creeds follow on another like the withered leaves of autumn; but what is beautiful is a joy for all seasons and a possession for all eternity.”

In today’s society, our lives move at breakneck speed, and the pressures of modern living weigh heavy upon us – can even cripple us. But, if we are wise, we can choose to take refuge and to restore ourselves in the sanctuary of art. Let me finish with the words of writer Saul Bellow: “Art – the fresh feeling, new harmony, the transforming magic which by means of myth brings back the scattered distracted soul from its modern chaos – art, not politics, is the remedy”.

“A work of art is the trace of a magnificent
struggle”
- Robert Henri

Thanks for stopping by.

- Martin

For future reading on the healing power of art, please investigate these following fine books:
Writers On The Art of Writing - by Nancy Crampton; The Art Spirit – by Robert Henri; Creation, Artists, Gods and Origins – by Peter Conrad; and The Quotable Artist – by Peggy Hadden.

THANK YOU TO MY LOYALISTS

“THANK YOU TO MY LOYALISTS”


I wanted to take the opportunity in this blog to thank all of you who purchased my new album, “IN THE TEMPLE OF THE MUSE,” upon its recent release. You gave my “ship” a wonderful launch, enabling the CD - in its first week - to reach #2 in CD Baby’s independent artists Top Sellers list. Its early success is made all the more rewarding, and even more personal, by the fact that this is my first release on my independent record label, IroningBoard Records. So, I owe a great big THANK YOU to those of you whom I like to call “my loyalists”; your faith in my new music is extremely gratifying.

In the meantime, while rehearsing some of my songs recently, a performance of "Blessed" (which is Track #6 on the new CD) was taped. “Blessed” is a simple song about the commitment that two people make to each other when they decide to spend the rest of their lives together within the union of marriage. The video was shot in one take, without any edits, and we felt that it captured the song’s intimacy, so we decided to share it with you. I hope you like it.

Also, a week ago, I was featured on Audionowcast’s 50th “birthday” podcast show. It was a fun night and a great celebration. I had the chance to talk about various songs on the new album – within a slightly different context from previous interviews I’ve done. Mike Rodriguez, who hosted the show, presented me with some intriguing questions that focused more on the production, technical and musical inspiration behind the recording of “Temple”. A great deal of my studio recording process involves “planned mistakes” and “controlled chaos”, so I found it refreshing to recall some of those behind-the-scenes moments. Check out the link to the Podcast on my websites, and enjoy the interview and birthday party!

Before I sign off, I want to say once again, thanks guys, for your support of my new record.

Until next time ….


- Martin

Early Review of Page's New CD

A&R Registry,
“…Because Sometimes the Difference Between Success and Failure is Information"

Ritch Esra, Publisher

*

In The Temple of the Muse - No OrdinaryAlbum

“What we choose to fight is so tiny! What fights with us is so great!”
- Rainer Maria Wilke

This has always been a favorite quote of mine; it sums up so much of the heart’s vast and conflicting emotional landscape. It’s also the metaphorical and much of the musical framework that Martin Page has created his latest body of work on. With In The Temple of the Muse - the long awaited follow-up to
In The House of Stone and Light, Page has created a soulful and timeless work that takes us on a musical journey that reflects on spiritual surrender, keeping love’s intention in everything we do, forgiveness and the inarticulate speech of the heart in the face of profound and devastating loss. It’s his most powerful and personal work to date.

As a recording artist, he had his first success in 1982 with the release of his band Q-Feel which garnered the hit single Dancing in Heaven. Its success is what brought him to America. Instead of following up with another Q-Feel album at the time, his path lead him to focus more on his songwriting.

Over the last 25 years, he has written or co-written such memorable songs as We Built This City, (Starship), These Dreams (Heart) - both with Bernie Taupin, King of Wishful Thinking & Faithful (Go West), Fallen Angel (Robbie Robertson), just to name a few. In addition, he has also had his songs recorded by Josh Groban, Barbra Streisand, Bryan Ferry, Tom Jones, Earth, Wind & Fire and Kim Carnes, just to name a few.

In 1994, Page released his first solo album In The House of Stone and Light, which garnered the Top 10 Hit for the title track. There were other standouts on the album, especially Shape the Invisible, Keeper of the Flame, Monkey in my Dreams and the profoundly moving closer to the album The Door; a disturbingly evocative and chilling portrait of a grandmother who reflects on her childhood experience at Treblinka, a concentration camp during WWII.

It’s been fourteen years since In The House of Stone and Light, and I was very excited to hear his new work. I came to Martin Page’s new work as a past admirer and what became evident as I listened to In The Temple of the Muse was that as an artist, he has experienced ineffable loss and gone through some deeply personal transformations as a result of it over these past fourteen years. What has come out of it artistically is a very powerful work that reflects his journey through those experiences.

With In The House of Stone and Light, there was a gallantry and a driving spirit to many of the songs, (In The House of Stone and Light, Shape the Invisible, Keeper of the Flame), whereas in In The Temple of the Muse, Page has framed much of the work in a more subtle and internal way musically as many of the songs examine the various emotional landscapes and experiences of the human heart.

The beating of a human heart is slow, deliberate and provides life. That’s the best way to musically describe the opening track “I Guess I Will” , a song about spiritual surrender that’s built around a heart-beat like rhythm,

“The open vein, the ashes rain
A spirit shed upon our bed
Forever and a day I’ll be with you”

This theme runs through many of the songs of this great new CD. Musically, I Guess I Will is a richly layered and atmospheric track of subtle rhythm, as well as the majestic and beautifully articulated guitar textures (courtesy of Russell Broom, Jack Hues and Page) that add a hymn-like quality to the song.

In "Everything You Do" and “Try,” this rhythmic quality of the human heart is continued in both songs that remind not to lose sight of love’s power and intention in everything we do in life. There’s a great sense of intimacy Page brings to them vocally. In "Mi Morena", the most richly romantic song on the CD, Page holds the emotional intensity by grounding the track in a wonderfully lyrical and subtle bass line that carries the melody throughout the song. There’s a beauty to Spanish acoustic guitar that compliments the track as well. The bridge melody and lyric elevate the song’s feel; making it reminiscent of a prayer.

“Take this cross of feathers and bone
Take this heart I’ve carved in stone
In your name”

This song was originally recorded by Josh Groban on his last CD of original material. It was written and produced by Martin Page. While Groban has an excellent voice, it’s Page’s version that moves me more. Groban’s recording is more overtly lush and romantic where Page’s version is more organic and soulful in its approach especially vocally. This is often the case when you get to hear songwriters’ versions of their songs (who don’t normally sing them - ala Pete Townshend)

"Man In The Moon" looks at what we’re doing to the planet from the point of view of a conversation with the Man In The Moon who sees the truth of the way we’re treating the planet.

“Man In The Moon
Look What We’ve Done Down Here…..
All in The Name Of Fear
When The Black Cloud Clears
Another Forest Disappears
I Guess We Need The Room
Yeah, That’s our Excuse
Man In The Moon”

"Blessed" is a beautiful and powerful song. It’s a song that you can imagine hearing at weddings for years to come, but it’s also more than just an ordinary love song. It’s a song about true gratitude which is the heart’s memory. It’s a song that expresses what one feels when life’s journey blesses them with the someone who truly contributes to them in many ways emotionally and spiritually. The subtle acoustic guitar and musical textures underneath provide the perfect vehicle for this beautiful expression of genuine fulfillment.

"The Long Walk Home" conveys someone who’s trapped in the darkness of fear and can not let go. The hypnotic rhythm and musical build toward the end of the song give it a wonderful sense of melancholy and encouragement.

"Song for Ruth" is an exquisite song of reflection and remembrance on one level. On another, it speaks to the permanence and lasting value that true love has in our lives. With Song for Ruth the subtleties and various emotional melodic releases throughout the melody are highlighted by Pages best vocal on the album. In the final fade of the song Page’s voice captures the wide range of nuances without any false inflation of emotion, as the song recalls the scattered memories of jewelry and cigarettes and of the hearts that were blessed; and then recalls birthday hats and wedding rings, Dolphin Fins, Dignity and Lace – All in your lovelight! It brings to mind The Blue Nile at their evocative best. This is where you really see the growth in Page as both a songwriter and especially as a vocalist.

"When Johnny Sang The Blues" is another song of reflection and remembrance but much lighter in its tone. England of the 60’s provides the backdrop this time for an uplifting song that recalls the joys and exuberance of growing up during the era of the Mersey Sound and The Beatles where romance was always accompanied by the music of the day. It sings of a time when young lovers’ hearts were as open as the northern sky.

The final song "WhereThe Sun is Buried" is where the theme of In The Temple of the Muse culminates in an incredibly powerful metaphor. Its power isn’t from the examination of man’s dark nature by recalling some of the most ineffable human losses over the last 20 years – (The Schoolyard Massacre in Dunblane Scotland, The Bombing in Oklahoma City, The War in Sarajevo). Instead, its power is derived by the answer it provides; an answer that can only be expressed through the open and inarticulate speech of our heart.


In The Temple of the Muse is such a wonderfully rich body of work that looks at a wide range of emotional landscapes within the human heart. Like a great wine, it’s a work that deepens your appreciation of it upon each subsequent listen you give it.

========