Ma Polaine’s Great Decline are an award-winning band praised by MOJO Magazine for their unique blend of pop, folk, blues, and Americana, embarking on an exciting year following the February release of their fifth studio album, Monster Swan.
This album is a return to the grittier, blues side of Ma Polaine, and whilst that influence is evident, the final album still carries their usual “hard to pigeon-hole” hallmark.
“Japanese Knotweed” flies that flag most strongly, the somewhat unhinged story line backed by a similarly unhinged arrangement. “Gasoline Can” and “Told You Lately” hold the most blues about them, albeit from different camps of the genre.
With airplay on BBC 6 and BBC Radio 2, and the support of Cerys Matthews, the band's genre-defying charm unfolds through songs that explore the intricacies of human connections, weaving tales of light and dark with uplifting melodies and heartfelt storytelling.
Their recent live album release drew this comparison from Fatea magazine: “a cocktail that is one part Beth Gibbons from Portishead, a measure of Holiday edge and one part Rockabilly growl”.
Beth’s songwriting roots trace back to her childhood in Cornwall, where she began performing folk songs by Brenda Wootton before discovering the voices of Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and Kate Bush through her father’s record collection. Clinton’s musical upbringing was steeped in London’s jazz and blues scene, catching Muddy Waters as a child and jazz legends at Ronnie Scott’s as a teen. Together, their influences merge into a sound that defies labels - part folk, part jazz, part country, and wholly theirs.
Over the years, Ma Polaine’s Great Decline have released four albums and five EPs, including 2020’s City of Love, which earned them Fatea Magazine’s Best Band/Duo award and a 4-star MOJO review. They were also due to perform live on BBC Radio 2 for Cerys Matthews before lockdown brought the world to a standstill, a moment that ultimately deepened their creative resolve.
Live, Beth has a dark humour that offers a chance to laugh at life, consider our human connection, love, and the complex facets of pain, and understanding life can go a bit wonky sometimes. We don’t always get it right, we’re not perfect and our imperfections are part of what make us human, alive, and connected. These are all addressed in the songs, and there’s a cathartic nature to Beth’s lyrics, song-writing and sound that draws the listener in.