Hundred Million Martians

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Hundred Million Martians – Marseille (Plastic Passion 2008)
Their three previous albums are called Martian Arts, Mars Bars and Solid Rock Planet. This makes it pretty obvious that an album called Marseille is Hundred Million Martians' most down-to-Earth effort.
Although the titles point into outer space, Hundred Million Martians has NEVER played any kind of space rock. Instead, HMM's recipe is all about mixing the rock, pop and punk traditions of different decades. And that's what Marseille, their tightest and best produced record up to date, sounds like.
”Recording Marseille was a lot of work, but also very rewarding”, says Ari (guitar). ”We booked the studio when we had only half of the songs ready. We did that to force ourselves to start working hard – The Martians are at their best under high pressure. If we weren't in the studio recording, you'd find us at our rehearsal space writing new songs. Some of my favourites – Backseat of Your Soul, Take Back the Time – were the among the last we wrote.
Recorded in Studio Redhouse, Turku, Finland and produced byt Danil Venho, Marseille represents ten catchy songs. Hanoi Rocks' Michael Monroe spices three on them with his harmonica and saxophone.
”We chose the studio and the produced based on their good reputation – and it was an excellent choice. Venho didn't let us off easy. Instead, he made us refine the arrangements and our playing until it was perfect. Rough, but definitely worth it.”
”Monroe did this as a favour. He's a true star and an extremely talented professional. He listened the songs a couple of times, started to play and did an amazing job. I'm especially happy about the killer harp solo on Passed and the Under My Wheels déja vu in the end of I Still Love the Feeling.”
After Solid Rock Planet (2004), their first album on Plastic Passion label, Hundred Million Martians has shrunk into a quartet.
”Guitar player Tuomas left the band a couple of years ago. His backing vocals were a crucial element of our sound. It was pretty tricky for us to get used to the new line-up. However, it was also a great opportunity to re-invent the HMM sound. Now our band sounds tighter and clearer than ever before. Also, Marseille has more backing vocals than any of our previous records – thanks to our pals in the band Ben's Diapers.”
”If you compare Marseille with the previous HMM albums, it's a combination of the garage roughness of Solid Rock Planet and the smoothness of Mars Bars. It's like our producer said: 'Seems like we've made the best Hundred Million Martians album so far.'”
Biography:
The name Hundred Million Martians should ring a bell between every pair of punk-rockin-power-pop-loving ears, but due to some wicked twist of fate it probably does not. However, those aware of the bands doings and whereabouts surely know what the fuss would be about.
Hailing from Turku, Finland, the band kicked off in 1996 by releasing a four track EP Brighter Days. A year later they got signed to Finnish Hiljaiset Levyt label. The debut album Martian Arts was released in 1997 and contained some impressive tunes. The self-explanatory gem A Perfect Pop Song is a perfect example of the album's brilliance.
"In 1998 we released an EP called I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", lead singer and guitarist Jyrki remembers. "It had four tracks by the same name, one original and one from the Ramones, the Rubinoos and the Pushtwangers each. It was a cool concept and got great reviews. The radio didn't spit on it either."
Soon after the band recorded their second full-lenghter Mars Bars (1999). It turned out great, all the way from the excellent whiplash rock of Where Ever You Are I Hope That You're Happy Now to the tenderness of Cool Shades. "It sounded freaking brilliant, still does. A masterpiece and an album to be proud of on your death bed", says Jyrki. Mars Bars got great reviews.
In 2004 they returned with an album that explained why there's the word Mars in Marshall: Solid Rock Planet. Four years later they're back again with Marseille, an album that brilliantly sums up the energy and productional values of their two previous records.