ALBUM Review, “Clouds & Silver Linings”
Original review at Musikfans, by Carsten Linde. In English:
Behind the band name Martin & The New Songrise is, above all, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Martin Høybye. When he’s not writing music, Martin is a researcher at the University of Southern Denmark (he has a Ph.D. in ethnographic songwriting!!).
In the lead-up to the recording of the craftful and ingenious “Clouds & Silver Linings,” Martin Høybye has clearly honed his storytelling technique within a melodic blend of folk, country, blues, and Americana. The album is refreshingly polished, in part because every single superb song has masterful lyrics, verses, and choruses.
It’s as clear as day that “Clouds & Silver Linings” is the culmination and highlight so far of a nice, long career as a songwriter. Listen, for example, to the song “De-bluesify Me.” Profound with hit potential. Witty because the album is imaginative, varied, and relatable. At times subdued, only to become edgier—as in “Bad Thing Go,” for example—where a blues harmonica suddenly makes the song “dangerous.”
To me, Martin Høybye leans—both in terms of inspiration and caliber—toward the American Marc Cohn (the man behind, among other songs, “Walking In Memphis,” “Walk Through The World,” and “Listening To Levon”). Big words, I admit. But these 12 songs could very well one day—once the album reaches a Trump-free U.S.—be reinterpreted by Marc Cohn himself, who has already paid tribute to the early heroes on his album “Listening To Booth: 1970.”
Surrounded by talented musicians such as Dennis Ahlgren (producer, electric guitar, and bass), Jeppe Juul Jepsen (keyboards), and Peter Dombernowsky (drums), the overall impression is that of a vibrant, engaging, and stunningly well-produced album. An album that builds on the two previous ones—“The Hourglass Sessions” from 2019 and “Song In The Key Of Collaboration” from 2024.
Twelve cohesive, sensory songs that ingeniously celebrate the intimate, standing up and making a case for how songs can make this threatened earth and world a slightly better place to be.
With a singer and songwriter like Martin Høybye, it still makes sense to look forward to the next beautiful Sunrise.