On The Verge

Aunt Martha

Wilmot, N.H.
New, New England Folk
www.auntmarthaband.com

Aunt Martha is part of the burgeoning folk-rock scene that includes acts like Fleet Foxes and Ray LaMontagne. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Tim Noyes says, “If there’s any band that’s been a constant in our arsenal of influence it’s My Morning Jacket.” Originally formed as a trio at the end of 2008, the group is now a quintet though their latest, Norway, ME, was written and recorded entirely by Noyes on his laptop at his family’s cabin (in, you guessed it, Norway, Maine). With layers of acoustic and electric guitars, bass, light percussion and stacks of vocals falling into beautiful harmony, it’s a haunting, moody album that’s reminiscent of Bon Iver’s debut For Emma, Forever Ago both in tone and approach. Conceived after a year full of struggle and disappointment, the material crackles with big rock energy onstage but it’s the naked, raw intimacy of Norway, ME that makes it exceptional. (The band earned high marks at this past year’s Bonnaroo for covers of everyone from Eminem to Phosphorescent.) “Those [songs] all have a bit of honesty and desperation to them” explains Noyes. “[The album] is trying to capture the vulnerability that I imagine we all feel.”

Click here to see a performance by Aunt Martha live at Relix.