Bless The Weather (Island ILPS 9167)
Bless John Martyn.
Here’s an album to delight fron one end to the other, and there’s not a wet spot during it either. Except… well, except, the slightly outrageous addition of “Singing In The Rain” as the final track, sung innocently by John, and it also sounds as if he really enjoys doing it. The rest of “Bless The Weather” is undiluted John Martyn, guitar craftsman, distinctive singer abd composer courageous. An intense instrumental, for insrance, “Glistening Glyndebourne”, with its jazz leanings, could have been insubstantial stuff. You know, tinkle tinkle, cash cash. Avant-garde. Well, it’s actually a potent piece of writing and playing, notes flying in all directions towards the end. And the songs are very much John Martyn. The honesty of “Bless The Weather” the good time appeal of “Sugar Lump” and the whimsical “Go Easy” are all rich with Martyn’s haunting voice. As I said, Bless John Martyn.
B.M.
1 December 1971
