Martha - Ice Cream and Sunscreen

One of the undoubted highlights of the summer of 2016 was the album, Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart from Durham indie pop punkers Martha. Featuring Nathan Stephens Griffin, Jonathan Cairns, Daniel Ellis and Naomi Griffin (who is also a member of the equally wonderful No Ditching), Martha prove that pop punk doesn't have to be vapid and clichéd, it can be uplifting, intelligent and fun. There's 11 catchy gems dealing with not only their own experiences but name checking some of the people who've inspired them (anarchist Emma Goldman, Replacements singer Paul Westerberg and even Coronation Street's Curly & Raquel....). Last Year they released their album 'Love Keeps Kicking' but I have gone with  Ice Cream and Sunscreen which is a good introduction of what they're all about. Taking you from sorrow to a sense of all-conquering possibility in barely two minutes. Not re-inventing the wheel or anything but definitely catchy along with some good lyrics.