The Christian Underground Encyclopedia

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====== Martha's Wake ======

Progressive Rock\\
Denver, Colorado, USA

"Formed in the nineties, this Colorado area band released its debut effort on cassette. //Sofia//, which was released on Custom Records in 1995, garnered praise from local radio stations as well as Denver area newspapers. Steeped in a mix of progressive rock with hints of alternative and gothic rock, this Christian-oriented band released //Coloring China// in 1996. Martha's Wake toured throughout Europe and across the United States in support of the album, including a stop at the Cornerstone Music Festival. The group also earned a nomination at the fifth annual Los Angeles Music Awards. In 1998, Martha's Wake released //Time And Elements//, a record which followed a similar tone as its predecessor but didn't have as much fanfair resulting from it. The band also were part of a compilation entitled //Light From Underground, Vol. 2//. Martha's Wake has been compared to [[The Calm]] as well as [[Emerald]]. Martha's Wake has also shared the stage with [[Fourth Estate]] among others."

(from [[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/marthas-wake-mn0000369341]])

"Rock band from Denver, Colorado, active in the 1990s. Consisted of three male and three female members, of which four were couples - Lori & J. W. Penzien and Melody & Jon Nichols + Leah Carson and Drew Cullis. Their music has been described as middle eastern gothic with progressive rock influences, Coloring China from 1996 is a masterpiece."

(from [[https://www.discogs.com/artist/5694448-Marthas-Wake]])

===== Discography =====

| 199? | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2018/08/31/marthas-wake-romans-demo/|Romans (demo)]] |
| 1993 | Romans |
| 1995 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2021/01/16/marthas-wake-sophia/|Sofia]] |
| 1996? | Demo |
| 1996 | Coloring China | [[Hapi Skratch Entertainment]] |
| 1998 | Time & Elements | [[Kingdom Records]] |

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==== Romans (demo) ====

199? Independent

Leah Carson – Vocals\\
Lori Carter – Backup vocals and flute\\
Drew Cullis – Drums\\
Jon Nichols – Guitar\\
Melody Nichols – Bass and back-up vocals\\
J.W. Penzien – Keyboards

  - Burn Out
  - Lament of Planet Earth
  - Just Like Me
  - Righteous Man
  - Scarlet Letter
  - Café Moderato

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==== Romans ====

1993 Independent

Leah Carson – Vocals\\
Drew Cullis – Drums and Percussion\\
Jon Nichols – Guitar\\
Melody Nichols – Bass and back-up vocals\\
J.W. Penzien – Keyboards\\
Lori Penzien – Backup vocals, flute, and trumpet

  - Burn Out
  - SG-18
  - Shadows
  - The Race of Life
  - Rain
  - Scarlet Letter
  - Just Like Me
  - Lament of Planet Earth
  - Righteous Man
  - Cafe Moderato

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==== Sofia ====

1995 Independent

Leah Carson - Lead vocals\\
Jon Nichols - Guitar, dulcimer\\
Melody Nichols - Bass, backing vocals\\
J. W. Penzien - Keyboards\\
Lori Penzien - Flute, trumpet, backing vocals\\
Drew Cullis - Drums

Produced by Dave Beegle

  - The Ballad of Martha
  - Sanctuary
  - Dancing on the Edge
  - A Monster in the Night
  - Passion and Innocence
  - I Believe
  - War Within
  - Children

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==== Demo ====

1996? Independent

  - Threshing Floor
  - I Saw an Elephant
  - Intro
  - Paper Cup of Dreams
  - With the Sun

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==== Coloring China ====

1996 [[Hapi Skratch Entertainment ]]

Leah Carson - Vocals\\
Jon Nichols - Guitar, dulcimer\\
Melody Nichols - Lead and backing vocals, bass guitar\\
J.W. Penzien - Keyboards, piano\\
Lori Penzien - Backing vocals, flute, trumpet, congas\\
Drew Cullis - Drums, electronic drums

Produced by Dave Beegle

  - Alice is All Alone (4:14)
  - War Within (4:08)
  - China Coloring China (2:55)
  - Stone From a Poet's Grave (5:42)
  - Passion and Innosence (5:32)
  - The Ballad of Martha (4:52)
  - Sofia (1:00)
  - Paper Cup of Dreams (4:21)
  - Threshing Floor (4:30)
  - I Saw an Elephant (4:06)

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==== Time & Elements ====

1998 [[Kingdom Records]] (092998)

Jon Nichols - Acoustic guitar, classical guitar, slide guitar, dulcimer\\
Melody Nichols - Bass, backing vocals\\
J.W. Penzien - Keyboards, electric guitar, acoustic guitar\\
Lori Penzien - Lead vocals, flute, quena, trumpet, congas, keyboards\\
Drew Cullis - Drums, electronic drums, percussion

Dave Beegle - Guitar, keyboards\\
Sandy Mullins - Ocarina\\
Dan Epperson  Trombone\\
Larry Dunn - Violin

Produced by Dave Beegle

  - Razor Blade Girl (3:11)
  - "Fire" in Harlem (0:38)
  - Wait (2:58)
  - Under My Skin (4:33)
  - Different (4:02)
  - "Ether" Out of the Silent Planet (1:30)
  - Embrace (3:32)
  - Bitter I Know (4:00)
  - "Air" Notes to the Wind (1:52)
  - Kisses from the Sun (3:18)
  - Solitary God (4:24)
  - Everything (2:37)
  - Sacred "Earth" (2:55)
  - Rapunzel (5:18)
  - "Water" Neptune's Grave (2:51)
  - "Time" (0:09)

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