"Martin Heslop sent me a rather brilliant CD last week. It is a real jewel, so atmospheric. The scent of cedar wood, a crackling crystal set, outside a storm doing its worst, inside empty, wailing, despair. She's gone. Wonderful melancholy.
As the Stories Burn is crying out for national radio play. Feverish. Creeping. A contagion. It conjures up silent movie melodrama. This is Elbow getting their hands dirty. A bit of the crooked gait and gnarly delivery of Tom Waits.
Martin is a fantastic storyteller with a voice that twists and torments like a knife through butter. Accordians, brushed drums but also occasional sparkling electric guitar accompanying these tales bringing a little light and shade to the dark words.
Mince and potatoes is a sad song written and delivered as the mince and spuds are simmering away. Just acoustic guitar and lamenting voice but glorious all the same." - Rob Nichols, The Evening Gazette, September 09

"Refreshingly original take on songwriting - Martin's lyrics flow from lament to lament, a balance between the heartfelt and the tongue-in-cheek... He acknowledges the influences of Fabrizio de Andre and Tom Waits but I was immediately reminded of Nick Cave. In a seafaring mood. Highly recommended". Link Magazine - September '09