JOHN MARTYN Cool Tide (Permanent)
John Martyn is one of Brit rock’s eccentric one offs, who like Al Stewart and Richard Thompson wedded the whimsy of folk with the raunch of rock and the sophistication of jazz into a good time groove wrapped in the sweet fug of Mary Jane (marijuana for you non-hippies). Where Stewart and Thompson stared time in the face, and won, Martyn is still, as, Cool Tide points out, ‘Jack The Lad’, the cheeky brat looking for good times not deep meanings. Cool Tide has its moments. 12 minutes worth in the vibe of the title track, as Martyn’s guitar momentarily battles with Andy Sheppard’s swirly saxes over Alan Thomson’s driving bass. And on the best cut, ‘Father Time’, Martyn’s voice roars like a wounded bear railing against the ravages of the grim reaper. But too much of Cool Tide swops passion for sentiment, self indulgence softening the songs’ cutting edges
Andy Robson
Vox
1 October 1991
