Album review: WHEN MARY – Tainted

WHEN MARY - Tainted

Sonicbond [Release date 10.11.17]

The second album from Norwegian art rock band When Mary – Trude Eidtang (vocals, synth, percussion, glockenspiel), Christian Paulsen (guitars, programming, synth, bass) and Vidar Uthaug (synth, organ, korg, Rhodes) is a rather enchanting affair.

That is if, like me, you have guilty soft spot for the likes of Enigma’s brand of pop/rock circa MCMXC A.D., combining Gregorian-chant like vocals and symphonic instrumentation.

Following their 2013 debut  7summers7winters, When Mary mix art-pop and trip hop with the vocal elements of symphonic rock, Trude Eidtang (White Willow) finding her inspiration in the eighties and nineties with artists like Sade, Peter Gabriel, Eurythmics and Kate Bush.

Several of the intros/interludes would be well placed in an Enigma release – heavenly, angelic, choral lines, chiming abbey bells, swelling Phantom Of the Opera church organs, and dramatic operatic arias.

But at its heart – Eidtang’s sumptuous symphonic vocals aside, Tainted marries the pop sensibilities of Duran Duran, with the dirty synths sound of Soft Cell, and with chunky distorted guitar riffs beefing out the overall sound.

And as such, it comes down to how good a ‘pop’ song the band have managed to come up with, and in that respect Tainted consistently hits the outer ring with frequent bullseyes.  Ambient art pop par excellence.  ****

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply