Dopo tre anni di silenzio John Martyn pubblica il suo nuovo album, «Grace & Danger»; un disco in cui sono sapientemente filtrate ed amalgamate tutte le sue esperienze, compreso un anno trascorso in Giamaica; una ricca tela i cui colori tessono trame, spazi, luci.
John Martyn's Grace & Danger (Island L37469) is a polished, atmospheric album that steps lightly between rock, jazz and Caribbean rhythms.
A new album by John Martyn has become a rare enough event these past few years. Too rare, his admirers will say, because Martyn is one of the great figures of modern music, a man of mighty skills, powerful vision and an uncompromising commitment to doing things his way.
JOHN MARTYN: "Grace And Danger" (Island ILPS 9560)
John Martyn has founded a fluctuating career on musical obstinacy, and years of dogged devotion to his own cause and purpose have paid off with recent albums of improving excellence. Grace And Danger continues the tenacious trend, rooting itself in the elegant creativity of One World, but working with more joy as an improving musical whole – at time the blending of Martyn's voice and guitar, John Giblin's beautiful bass and Phil Collins' immaculate drumming is, simply, breathtaking.
A complete and well-realised LP, from the music by Scullion and production by John Martyn, to the artwork on the sleeve, it's an excellent album for WEA-Ireland's inauguration on the stage.
Despite a prior track record of eight albums, English singer-songwriter John Martyn is an unfamiliar name to many. If this is ever going to change, One World could be the album to do it.
Put this disc on the player and ask your friend who claims to know music from A to Z to guess who it is.
The Road To Ruin, on the other hand, shows Martyn emerging as a more distinctive talent, and marked the beginning of his fascination with jazz, which has played a large part in his subsequent career.
Like many folksingers in the '60s, John Martyn experimented with a lyrical contemporary chamber music.
John Martyn, who as a solo performer (just himself and guitar) has opened an American tour for Yes and will soon open another for Eric Clapton, is an underrated but magnetically engaging artist.
