Here's a really interesting new CD from Texas-born songwriter Chip Martin. Body Language is on the periphery of what is called "progressive rock" these days, but the subject matter of these 12 songs contain copious amounts of humor, politics, sex, evolution, and philosophy. The album was recorded in Texas and features several notable Austin music scene personalities, including Roscoe Beck on bass, Tommy Taylor on drums, Chet Himes at the console, and Fredy Argir producing. Chip was a founding member of the Austin-based rock band Stratus in the 70s and 80s. Since then, he has concentrated on cinematic music and soundtracks, most recently providing the music for the Melissa Moncus play The Red Thread, which was performed in various Texas theaters. Chip's influences are as diverse as his music, and include Ryuichi Sakamoto, Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, Joe Jackson, Adrian Legg, and Joan Armatrading, though in reality his music is not similar to these artists. Chip's music tends to defy comparison, but if one listens closely, one might hear elements of ska, world beat, pop, as well as big backbeats and classic rock elements. Body Language is not your typical Austin, Texas, album, as local audiences are now discovering. Perhaps the best way to approach this music, if you're fortunate enough to live in Austin, is to set aside the labels and get out to hear The Chip Martin Band at a venue near you. And if you don't, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Body Language. It's solid, it's different, the grooves are a mile wide, and after you get done thinking about what he's saying, you can dance to it.