John Mordecai

“A staggering 27 local bands will take to the stage in the popular Gourock venue to showcase their sounds and the event promises to have something for everyone. Among the acts performing will be Greenock-based four-piece soul band Phoenix Gene. The band are on a high after releasing a single, Madison, at the end of January. It was recently perched high at number two in the Reverbnation Chart. Guitarist and vocalist Steven Wilson said: "We are looking forward to playing live at the Darroch Bar, Gourock, on Saturday 23 along with other local bands. "There are four of us, myself, John Mordecai on guitar/vocals, John Newbury on bass and Eric Joyce on drums." Tickets for The Darroch Bandfest are available to buy now from the bar priced £5 for a daily ticket or a special offer of £12 for a weekend wristband. For more information about the event call the Darroch on 631780.” - Greenock Telegraph

“A staggering 27 local bands will take to the stage in the popular Gourock venue to showcase their sounds and the event promises to have something for everyone. Among the acts performing will be Greenock-based four-piece soul band Phoenix Gene. The band are on a high after releasing a single, Madison, at the end of January. It was recently perched high at number two in the Reverbnation Chart. Guitarist and vocalist Steven Wilson said: "We are looking forward to playing live at the Darroch Bar, Gourock, on Saturday 23 along with other local bands. "There are four of us, myself, John Mordecai on guitar/vocals, John Newbury on bass and Eric Joyce on drums." Tickets for The Darroch Bandfest are available to buy now from the bar priced £5 for a daily ticket or a special offer of £12 for a weekend wristband. For more information about the event call the Darroch on 631780.” - Greenock Telegraph

My Life as a Martinet is the new album from the newest member of band Degas, John Mordecai, hailing from Port Glasgow, there are a lot of influences in the work of John Mordecai that make his album very varied, each track seems to toy with a different style yet it works, in some instances I have heard things like this and the artist gets it horribly wrong.

‘The track cougar on my tail,’ is a very good country track, which compared to the rest of the album was very different in that it was more country and folk fuelled, than the soulful and psychedelic offerings in previous tracks, yet it was a welcomed change highlighting the versatility of John Mordecai.

The most impressive part of this very fluid album is the fact the Mr Mordecai played all the instruments himself, which adds to the charm of My Life as a Martinet, it is great to see an album that often meanders from genre to genre, yet keeps the artists’ style intact, you can really hear a lot of Nick drake and Peter Gabriel in his work, but by using these element it only acts to enhance the album as an art piece.

My Life as a Martinet as an album is a great solo account and it should be noted if this is the fruits of his labours as a solo artist, Degas will be a band to be checked out too, the only thing I would state is that there should be a core theme within albums and with the different influences sometimes that got lost, which is a shame however as a whole it is a piece of work that should be praised especially with tracks like ‘The mercenary revolution’ and ‘Extra Love.’ - Quenched Music

My Life as a Martinet is the new album from the newest member of band Degas, John Mordecai, hailing from Port Glasgow, there are a lot of influences in the work of John Mordecai that make his album very varied, each track seems to toy with a different style yet it works, in some instances I have heard things like this and the artist gets it horribly wrong.

‘The track cougar on my tail,’ is a very good country track, which compared to the rest of the album was very different in that it was more country and folk fuelled, than the soulful and psychedelic offerings in previous tracks, yet it was a welcomed change highlighting the versatility of John Mordecai.

The most impressive part of this very fluid album is the fact the Mr Mordecai played all the instruments himself, which adds to the charm of My Life as a Martinet, it is great to see an album that often meanders from genre to genre, yet keeps the artists’ style intact, you can really hear a lot of Nick drake and Peter Gabriel in his work, but by using these element it only acts to enhance the album as an art piece.

My Life as a Martinet as an album is a great solo account and it should be noted if this is the fruits of his labours as a solo artist, Degas will be a band to be checked out too, the only thing I would state is that there should be a core theme within albums and with the different influences sometimes that got lost, which is a shame however as a whole it is a piece of work that should be praised especially with tracks like ‘The mercenary revolution’ and ‘Extra Love.’ - Quenched Music