Martha “Beat, Perpetual” 2022. Dirtnap Records. Limited edition blue vinyl (200) that is “a one-time only pressing…and will never, ever be repressed.” (from Dirtnap’s distributor, Green Noise Records’ website). Two-song, 7″ EP (that’s how it’s billed, but isn’t a 2-song 7″ a single?) from UK’s power pop band Martha. “Beat, Perpetual” is relentlessly upbeat, poppy and catchy, though the Bandcamp story from Martha about the track says, “‘Beat, Perpetual’ is about being stuck indoors when you live for the road. Not being able to tour or play for such a long time has been really difficult, and as trivial as missing gigs might seem compared to the brutality of the past two years, it has taken a toll on people whose lives revolve around music. In spite of it all, we’ll keep rolling on.”

Side B has “Dreaming Out Loud,” which is also upbeat power pop, though a bit less boppy than the A-side. What’s extra cool is that it is a cover of a Tenement song; Tenement’s sister band, Dusk, is also on Dirtnap — both Tenement and Dusk share band members (we’ve seen Dusk play a few times this past year); they’re also from my hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin. Tenement’s original appears on their 2011 release The Blind Wink.