Far Away in Time
Martha and the Muffins · 1987
68 min · 17 tracks · new wave
New wave melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a vibrant soundscape that captures the essence of 1980s alternative music.
Top tracks — play these first
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Echo Beach — As the band's signature song, this track encapsulates their sound with its infectious rhythm and reflective lyrics about longing and escapism.
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Paint by Number Heart — This song showcases the band's ability to weave emotional depth into upbeat melodies, highlighting their lyrical sophistication amid catchy instrumentation.
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Terminal Twilight — With its atmospheric production and haunting vocals, this track exemplifies the band's exploration of darker themes while maintaining their new wave roots.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong melodies and thoughtful lyrics but lacks the depth for extensive replay value.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks that maintain a consistent tempo, while the second half introduces slower, more introspective songs.
- Several tracks employ layered synthesizers and rhythmic guitar lines, creating a rich texture characteristic of the new wave genre.
- The lyrics often explore themes of disconnection and longing, with a conversational style that invites listener engagement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective lyrics with vibrant melodies
- short bursts of catchy tunes
- reflective moments during quiet evenings
- playful energy for casual gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- want intense, heavy soundscapes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 1987, 'Far Away in Time' marked a pivotal point for Martha and the Muffins following their breakthrough hit 'Echo Beach'. By this time, the band had established themselves within the Canadian new wave scene, leveraging their previous successes to explore more complex themes and sounds.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The B-52's· Talking Heads· Devo
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Echo Beach 3:38
- 2 Paint by Number Heart 3:28
- 3 Saigon 4:24
- 4 Indecision 4:23
- 5 Terminal Twilight 4:42
- 6 Hide and Seek 3:59
- 7 Monotone 2:47
- 8 Sinking Land 5:27
- 9 Revenge (Against the World) 3:31
- 10 Cheesies and Gum 3:09
- 11 Insect Love 4:14
- 12 About Insomnia 3:12
- 13 Motorbikin' 2:56
- 14 Suburban Dream 3:27
- 15 Was Ezo 3:58
- 16 Women Around the World at Work 3:59
- 17 This Is the Ice Age 7:27
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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