The Martians
The Race

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The Race Lyrics

Over the years we’ve received records from countries spanning the planet, but this is the first to traverse the solar system from another. The Martians, Ian Stewart and Martin Keel, come in peace, though they do wield a guitar and saxophone. We must assume they’re here to study at the University of Earth.

‘The Race’ comes from the debut album; The Stars, Like Dust (hopefully the preceding Asimov reference now makes sense). Enigmatically, this is a CD-only release and you’ll most likely pick one up by attending one of their live shows in Sussex, UK.

A swirling spacey keyboard introduces the song, before evoking The Joshue Tree era U2 in the guitars. There’s a whomping saxophone solo in this track, smooth and melodic, and dropping the song into an atmospheric middle-eight. The outro builds the intensity, with additional piano and saxophone interplay.

Stewart’s vocal is a warm addition to the track, filling the spaces between the bass line and the sparkling guitar.

The recording is crisp and the layers are wonderful. The more you push the volume, the more the details reward you, especially in that rich ending where the intensity passes between the different instruments perfectly.

The Race Lyrics

I’ve been running the race
I’ve been counting the cost
I’ve been holding my hands out to you
I’ve been lost I’ve been found
I’ve been up I’ve been down
I’m still holding my hands up to you

If only they see all that we see
If only to find our way back
The lost are still searching for your song
Let us sing so that they
Can come in from the cold
And be found

I’ve been pressing ahead
I’ve been chasing the goal
I’ve been holding my hands up to you
I’ve been hurting in pain
I’ve been out in the rain
I’m still holding my hands out to you

If only they see all that we see
If only to find our way back
The lost are still searching for your song
Let us sing so that they
Can come in from the cold
And be found
And be found

I’ll be counting the cost
I’ll be counting the cost

I’ve been running the race
I’ve been counting the cost
I’ve been holding my hands out to you
I’ve been lost I’ve been found
I’ve been up I’ve been down
I’m still holding my hands up to you

If only they see all that we see
If only to find our way back
The lost are still searching for your song
Let us sing so that they
Can come in from the cold
And if only they see all that we see
If only to find our way back
The lost are still searching for your song
Let us sing so that they
Can come in from the cold
And be found

And be found

(Oh, oh)

The Martians

Written by Fenton on 16th May 2026

Steve Fenton writes in our music, words, and culture categories. He was Editor in Chief for The Mag and covered live music for DV8 Magazine and Spill Magazine. He was often found in venues throughout the UK alongside ace-photographer, Mark Holloway. Steve is also a technical writer and programmer and writes gothic fiction. Steve studied Psychology at OSC, and Anarchy in the UK: A History of Punk from 1976-1978 at the University of Reading.