As a recent TV documentary attested, John Martyn is an affable but exasperatingly evasive geezer, taking solace in silly voices, booze and weed. Luckily, on record he’s nakedly, pathetically honest, his unabashed emotions slurred and oozing like honey.
On One World, he achieved the sort of rich sonic brine that perfectly depicts the state of his soul ? the galloping Echoplex reverb of “Dealer”, the dubby suspension of “Smiling Stranger”, the heart-melting title track and, finally, the heart-stopping “Small Hours”, perhaps Martyn’s finest hour, taking you to a place of solitude and intimacy like only he can.
True, liquid essence.
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