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15 Minutes Out To Sea is Jodi Martin's 2nd or 3rd album, depending on whether you count her 1/2 live, 1/2 studio release 21 Stairs. 15 Minutes Out To Sea features 4 songs that were previewed on 21 Stairs, along with some new songs. The production here is bigger and more varied than I've previously heard on Martin's songs.

The opening song, Too Easy is one of my favourite songs. The arrangement here features a full band and is much much bigger, and somewhat faster, than the solo Jodi + hammond version on 21 Stairs. When I first listened to this new version I thought it had lost something in the translation to the big sound. I'm getting used to it, but I still prefer the mellow version... just!

The next track Screwed Up is up-beat, and sounds a bit like Sheryl Crow, especially Robyn Martin's backing vocal arrangement and handclaps. This isn't a bad thing - this track rocks. This is followed by the title track 15 Minutes Out To Sea, which is another fairly big production that includes harmonica and a Fender Rhodes. This is a fairly poppy track with a bunch of instruments playing a catchy descending progression. Nicely done...

Like a lot of Jodi Martin's songs, the lyrics of the next 2 songs explore connections between people. While Who We Are features a full band, it starts to take the album back to Martin's more familiar acoustic setting - great song, great performance. The next song You Showed Me keeps this feeling going, even though it is embellished by instruments such as glockenspiel and toy piano.

Feet On The Jetty and Westerly Wind both have a nautical theme, although the latter is a "relationship song" that uses sailing as a metaphor.

Not Afraid Anymore features Martin solo, on acoustic guitar and vocals. I remember particularly enjoying a stunning rendition of this song during her live set in Canberra back in February. She's feeling nostalgic here, the arrangement is sparse and the feeling is moody. To me this is what Jodi Martin is best at. I love this performance. Bordertown is a little more upbeat, but not much, with some nice electric guitar and bass playing by Christian Pyle. Alone starts off nice and moody, and picks up the pace a bit.

Love That Survives is a much mellower arrangement than the live version on 21 Stairs. Even with just voice, acoustic guitar and banjo, this song still sounds big... probably the hallmark of a classic. The album finishes with an alternate version of Screwed Up. This arrangement has much more bottom end that the earlier one... and it doesn't have the handclaps. It's good but I prefer the 1st version.

The performances on this album took me a bit by surprise. However, the more I listen to them, the more I like them. Jodi Martin has experimented with some interesting arrangements and hasn't missed with any of them. She's also given herself a chance to widen her audience by without abandoning what she does best. I really like this album.