One World

NO MORE BRITISH SHIT I HAVEN'T HEARD OF

a mix between garbage and porn soundtrack

This was an inspiration. There are problems with production that at points feels dated, but once I let this go and got past some of the more late 70s/ early 80s sounds, I felt uplifted and held by this album in a way I haven't by many albums. Small Hours blew me away, it's wonderful ambient guitar over a simple pulse beat, eventually leading up to a short song, before returning to guitar and sound was perfect. It's made me want to hear more.

When his voice first came in, I hated it, and was preparing for an excruciating 40 minutes. But that was the only part where I noticed his voice stand out, and then in blended in to an ocean of excellence. This is the most surprising album I have had so far and is going on regular rotation.

This album was a 4 right up until "Small Hours." I've listened to it probably ten or more times in the last 24 hours. Easily becoming one of my favorite songs of all time. One of the most soothing, cleanest albums I've heard in a long time. Highlights: 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8.

Make. It. Stop. Other than some instrumental work on "Small Hours", I couldn't wait for this album to be over. Anti-groove jazz.

An adorable dreamy piece of work. This was my 110th on this, and I loved every moment of it. 5 stars because there aren’t 6.

I reviewed John Martyn's Solid Air earlier in this project, and enjoyed it more than I was expecting. Based on that, I thought I knew what to expect with this record. And was pleasantly surprised again. Much of side 2 seems like a fairly natural progression from Solid Air. Similar smooth jazz/soul/funk/folk blend, now with a touch of latin rhythms on Certain Surprise, with Martyn's foggy voice woven beautifully through the arrangements. I love his voice, which he uses like an instrument, although sometimes his slurred diction slides almost into self-parody.Take it easy, John. But side 1 is a revelation. The heavy use of effects, especially delay, and dub production techniques (without being pastiche - this is definitely not reggae) is something quite fresh. Big Muff is co-written by Lee Scratch Perry! I can see the influence, without it sounding like a Lee Scratch Perry record per se. I really loved the songs on side 1. Discretely funky, weird sounding without being abrasive, without any histrionics. I can see how these tracks (especially Big Muff and Small Hours) are cited as influences on trip hop, especially Massive Attack. This album caught me by surprise, and I really enjoyed it. Haven't heard much quite like it, and it really grabbed me (especially side 1)

Forgettable. One World vocals sounded like an old man on quaaluds trying to sing with apple sauce stuffed in his mouth.

This fucker wrote a song called Big Muff.

yacht prog and i’m 1000% here for it.

“What the fuck it this?” I noted with a frisson within a few seconds of putting this on last night. Yacht rock-jazz fusion left me baffled and unanchored: promising sensations! A day in, I am still perplexed, but I do like this dolphin make-out music!

There are some good sounds on this album, but it feels kinda sleepy to me... I also don’t dig his voice, but there are a couple good songs on this. Favorite Track(s): “Dealer” and “Couldn’t Love You More”

This didn’t feel like a mediocre album of its era chasing the Beatles hype. No, it felt like a mediocre album from the 80s instead, when everyone was fascinated by bad “world music”. But hey, at least it’s ahead of its time I guess?

This album is really not my thing. Small Hours and Couldn't Love You More are pretty good, but I think my appreciation for the most divergent tracks is telling. The production is well-crafted in the sense that it's interesting, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what it adds up to. I feel like there's more artistic merit than the Supertramp record, but it's still a little indulgent and navel gaze-y. 1.5/5

Soft and dreamy. Talkative and calm

No lo vi venir. Parece Nick Drake. Volverlo a escuchar para darle un rating más justo.

Never could get into John Martyn, his vocal style suiting his best songs well ("Big Muff", the highlight here), but sounding like a drunk busker on the remainder. A gateway drug for schoolmates on the dirty path to crustydom, later serving as key inspiration for the Dave Matthews Band (who I actually like) and others like Blues Traveler (who I really do not). Congruent with a below-average Van Morrison album.

Man sings like he smoked a pack a day for his whole life and now has a hole in his throat. At least it’s unique. It’s not the worst album I’ve ever heard, but I enjoyed very few parts. Inoffensive, mostly. 3/5

In spots, One World hits a funky experimental stride that I’d liken to late 70’s Eno (think Before and after Science, though it does have its ambient moments) or maybe Soon Over Babaluma-era Can. In others, it kind of has a jazzy 70’s soft rock vibe, which is a little less interesting to me, but overall not bad (with the exception of some scatting, which I find to be unacceptable no matter the situation). The previous John Martyn record I was assigned, Solid Air, was more enjoyable as a whole, but One World is very good, even if has a distinct late 70’s island rock vibe. I wouldn’t call this yacht rock, though, it’s way too densely layered, interesting and lacking the superficiality, but it’s adjacent in some ways - like if yacht rock wasn’t the lamest thing on earth you could ever possibly be into.

Meh.

not a fan of his voice. a little like brian wilson but not as good. the sounds on smiling stranger are good though

Sonido por completo etereo, suena como pop experimental. Tiene un problema en un bache a la mitad con dos canciones romanticas muy sosas que hacen que pierda un poco el concepto. Los sonidos de experimentación en guitarra y amplificadores no van a ser para todos pero a mi me encanto. La última canción fue lo mejor del disco. Impresionante pensar que es de 1977, casi se podría notar un atisbo de lo que va a llegar en unos años con new wave y sintetizadores.

I would love to hear more international bands and music. But we get this. It’s harmless I guess but boring and the song Dancing seems like a precursor to Dave Matthews which is unfortunate. Sounds competent but uninteresting to me.

So I found “One World” by John Martyn to be a pretty pedestrian late 70’s R&B effort, that easily could have been the sleazy porn soundtrack to the old SNL skit featuring Tim Meadows called – “Velvet Jones – The Ladies Man”… Gee – I wonder what “Big Muff” could be about… Ugh… Anyways, I had pretty much written it off completely – and then the final song “Small Hours” came on… Primarily an instrumental for all intents-and-purposes, and I found it to be absolutely amazing… Reminded me of a less-raw, way-more melodic “Maggotbrain” by Funkadelic… “Small Hours” is probably a 5-stars out of 7-stars in my little rating system, as it’s that good – and it really came out of absolutely nowhere, as the rest of the album is pretty much shite, but based on that 1 fabulous song, I’ll give it a 2 – but you’ve been warned…

The description of this album vs how it sounds is a wild contrast. I expected this to be something sweeping and inspired but the vocals don't even give it a chance to go there. Not coming back to this one.

Album art is interesting. The production is pretty good. The instrumentals are a little manic but often work. Choices were made on the vocals that don't pay off. Small Hours get's an honorable mention for being a nice listen. This album is probably a grower that you would learn to get comfortable with it's imperfections. I don't have the time. 2.5

Big Muff and Certain Surprise gave me the ick. Bad vibes from this album in general.

Another solid album from John Martyn. I really enjoyed the guitar playing on this. I feel like it's coming from a different place than what I normally hear. I'll keep listening to this.

Carves out a place for itself in my brain. Gorgeous.

Never heard of this chap before, but this album was an excellent surprise.

This sounds like it was recorded in a cardboard box. The album is all the more better for this. Production values aren't at a premium; the songs are allowed to develop and steal the show. The message of the One World title track remains powerful. Couldn't Love You More always leads to a few tears. Big Muff makes me smile. Plus Rico!

I like what's going on here. Favorite track: "Dealer."

Ok, so, with John Martyn you've got to be able get over his voice - he has some pretty weird affectations and I guess I can see why some people can't get into it - works for me, though. I've had this album for ages but I've barely played it - I always make a bee line for "Solid Air" instead, which is much more upfront and simplistic with its charms. Re-listening to "One World" as part of this project has actually been a full-on magical experience - I am enchanted! 🧙‍♀️ First play through and it's overall tone is hitting the chill, mellow, occasionally funky vibe I expect from John Martyn, but it also seems kinda busy and I fall back on my '"Solid Air" is the superior album' preconceptions. My copy of this album has a bonus disc full of live versions, demos and outtakes, and listening to those, which often felt a bit more stripped down, I liked them more. Re-listening to the main album again, I tried to dial into that busyness I heard before, and particularly in the first half of the album, the closer you listen the more bonkers things get! There's a bunch of stuff going on that shouldn't work together by rights, but it still somehow adds up to the vibe he wants. I saw another review describe it as "prog yacht" and yeah, that nails it! 😆 Fave tracks - "Dealer", "One World" (feel like Phosphorescent cribbed from this one), "Big Muff" are all awesome. The top accolade, though, goes to "Small Hours" - good lord that is a serene slice of sublime beauty. Amazing stuff.

Great, soothing listen, especially the final track.

I saw John Martyn about the time this was released.

Sounds like some kind of Clapton/Winwood hybrid and I’m absolutely here for it. Wow.

Great calm album

Easy 5 stars! I have a distinct memory of being in my 20’s and being tasked with entertaining a relative who was in his early teens. He was looking through my iPod and commented that I have terrible taste in music. First off… rude. Second… he pointed to the song title “Big Muff” as evidence of my bad taste. He didn’t know shit

John Martyn I love when we get an album and artist I am totally unfamiliar with and really dig it. Super cool grooves and textures. I like his voice too even though I can’t make out any words. Cool fusion of styles (ambient pop/ blues). Good the whole way through. Great musicians on this record too - I love all Steve windwoods synth solos. Favorite songs are Dancing, small hours, big muff, dealer. “Couldn’t love you more”reminds me of a Dave Matthews song.

Wow. I had never heard of John Martyn before this. I absolutely loved listening to this, front to back. Can hear the Jamaican influence and feel Steve Winwood's influence here. I've not heard much else quite like this, and it is so, so good.

I thought this was an outstanding piece of work. Really reminiscent, or more correctly influential, on music I've enjoyed in my life but first time I've consciously heard him. I can see from the write up that this isn't necessarily representative of his earlier work, but it's a fine piece of music.

super

John a surpris son monde en produisant de la très bonne musique avant l'an 2000, chose que seuls Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder et Cat Stevens ont réussi.

nice

great deviation from late 1970s sound here.. Whats up with the hate.. Sounds like good music thats what t sounds like guys... not like.. no no no.. guys..

Super excellent background music. Voices worked well with lyrics and music

Really funky Clapton sounds in the first song. Pink Floyd vibes in the second song This singer has a really nice raspy funky voice I like how you can have no idea what type of song is going to come next each song is so unique. Could be funk, rock, jazz, or trippy. They way that Small Hours is the ending just being super peaceful with some nice ambient wave music was the perfect way to cap off the album. This would an excellent drugs album This is exactly what I love about this album of the day thing. I had no idea who John Martyn was going into this but now I feel like I have to learn everything about him. Absolute 5/5

loved it

Surprising album, never heard of this. You can hear an influence on Nigel Godrich's production style, especially on Beck's "Sea Change"

Another album of John Martyn in this list and I thought I knew what I was going to get based on the other one, but nothing could be further from the truth. With a lot more experiment, range, more funk and more introverted songs on just one album, this is an incredible range of songs. I enjoyed this from start to finish.

Stick your head in the oven and crank it up to 300! We have finally hit the jackpot with this blockbuster of a record which makes me wetter than my auntie's honking, steaming pussy. The hills are alive with the sound of me wanking myself into an incestuous coma and you're all welcome to join me for the ride.

looooov

Genius. Small Hours is in my all time top ten tracks. The live version (I think I saw him perform it 6 times) of Big Muff was spellbinding, A very, very sad end to possibly the best British unsung hero of contemporary music (along with Roy Harper and Nick Drake).

In July 1978 I was working for the Migrant Services Section of the Social Security Department, in Clarence St Sydney. One morning I received a phone-call from a mate who was a student at Sydney University, telling me to get my arse up to the Union Theatre (now The Footbridge) on campus, because John Martyn was playing a free concert at 1.00pm. As it turns out, this was part of a world tour to promote the album One World. I got there in time. John Martyn was late, and extremely hung-over, carrying what appeared to be an acoustic guitar with a plethora of wires coming off it (and no doubt a bunch of effects pedals). It was one of the great concerts I’ve ever attended. At the time I was only familiar with the 1970 album Road To Ruin, which he recorded with his wife, Beverley, & which is an all-time favourite of mine, so most of what I saw him play that day was unfamiliar to me, but he was in blistering form. And I imagine a lot of what he played came from this album. How lucky I was, because this is a great record. I can’t think of anything else that sounds like it. About 30 years later, a different mate gave me a dvd titled The Transatlantic Sessions, which features many great artists & includes an enthralling version of Big Muff with Martyn on guitar & Danny Thompson on double bass. Do yourself a favour & google it. This is the song he co-wrote in Jamaica with Lee Scratch Perry the year before he made the album. You also hear the great reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez on Certain Surprise. I love the fact that Chris Blackwell set up mikes in the middle of a lake on his property(where the lp was recorded) to catch whatever noises nature was providing at the time. This was way ahead of its time. Love it.

I'm a big fan of John Martyn, particularly around this point in his career. Such a unique hybrid of influences that is miles ahead of its time. Martyn has such a natural, casual soulfulness to him that it makes his more experimental tendencies go down easy. Love that they recorded parts of the album from across a lake to capture the natural reverb/echo. Yet another example of artists creating their best work while in remote country locations.

Brilliant

Todavía no lo escucho pero con fe me gusta

Very good album, nice combination of rhythms.

I ended up listening to the Spotify suggestions for a long time after this ended

Very mature, extremely listenable, especially for its time. This was a pleasant surprise! 4/5

Great variety of groovy blues with good choice of instrumentation. Favorite track: small hours other picks: smiling stranger, big muff, couldn’t love you more, certain surprise

There's a definite shift from other work by this artist. This will be a grower with familiarity. On a first play the second side much stronger than the side one. The mix is odd at times but given there is experimentation going on it works. The guitar work is great.

Dang. I feel like this dude can do anything. This album gets funky, dancy, jazzy but also soulful, folky, and ethereal. Maybe the sounds he's making aren't revolutionary, but I can't imagine John Martyn, as a single package, was a dime a dozen in his time. Always appreciate the experimental stuff. Well maybe not always, haha, but I dig this one.

Ce n'est pas un coup de coeur, j'ai quelques réserves par rapport à certains aspects de composition, mais globalement je respecte beaucoup comment ça sonne unique et en avance sur son temps. Ça vaudrait la peine de lui redonner une chance. 7.5/10

'Solid Air' was a really nice surprise for me, so I was optimistic about this one. Thankfully I think this one also works really well for the most part. More than anything I think the music in this is just seriously on-point. There's so much variety and scope across the whole album. I love the ambient moments, the interesting soundscapes, but also just the variety of instruments and styles as well. It's good overall, but there's some standout tracks here that will definitely make it worth a revisit.

8/10. Had some Nick Drake vibes in there. Really enjoyed this one.

Work

Surprise, I found I liked this recording. Martyn's vocals and style are a bit difficult to get used to but otherwise a strong album. Song "Big Muff" stands out but all songs are a cut above.

It was weird and I really enjoyed it. The closing track, Small Hours was a really chill ambient tune to tie this weird album together. 4 stars

Smooth and easy listening. Enjoyed his voice.

Sometimes this exercise leads you to albums you never would have otherwise heard, and this is just one example. Thirty seconds into this album, I was certain that it would be a strong pass for me. Experimental jazz-funk-soul fusion is not among my favorite genres, and Martyn seemed fully committed to making this funky album as strange as can be. But in truth, this album won me over in a big way. It's a huge mood, full of danceable grooves, busy percussion, funky guitars, muted (but steamy) vocals, and weird guitar licks. Even more impressively, this album - which sounds more like an early 90s release than anything else - way ahead of its time, having been released in 1978! I truly can't believe that I am four starring this album, but its undeniably committed to being funky, weird, and pretty. It would certainly be safer to make this statement ironically or self consciously, but Martyn comes off earnest and dedicated. This album is worth pushing your limits for.

Primeira música e última sao ótimas, as outras não encantam tanto Fave: dealer, small hours

cool and creative album sonically, crazy that this from the 70s. dudes got really weird vocals but I don't mind them. sick ass album art too. what a hidden gem

I think I still like Solid Air a little more, but John Martyn really was a next level singer-songwriter. Some of the sounds on this album are insane for the 70s. Also, just noticed that he kinda sounds like Anohni. 3.5/5

This was a new artist to me, and after hundreds of albums, I appreciate that this one sounded distinctive. I have enjoyed it more as I return to it, but I haven't quite figured it out completely. It's one of those that I wish I had time to savor a bit more.

Some hits and some misses, but the hits hit hard and the misses didn't hurt. So, that's pretty good to me!!

Started out great. I can't understand a word. It got a little noodly and moogly at the end but I could listen to it again.

Soothing and enjoyable. Really nice.

Very chill, bit of psychedelic album. Quite enjoyed it, and listened to it at work. If listening to at home, would probably like it even more. Probably worth a re-listen to later.

4 out of 5. I enjoyed the soft guitar as it lead into more funk near the end though this album is more of a background music thing for me.

Breathtakingly brilliant.

Really enjoyed this - much more than expected. Lots of variation in sound and mood, and some interesting musical textures. Not a massive fan of the voice, but some great tunes here. The involvement of Lee Perry (and Rico) no doubt helped.

This was good for the most part. Very cool instrumentals (especially Small Hours), and good vocals for the most part. There were bits where the vocals put me off a little bit. This album has its issues but it has stuff to offer.

Wish I was more invested while I was listening

Honestly quite a cool and musical dense album. Lot of interesting stuff going on

Definitely judged the book by its cover on this one and was proved somewhat wrong by the end. I was expected another boring 70s rock album and instead got a nice and pleasant sounding 70s chill album with a very soothing vibe. One world was my fav.

Whoa, super dope album. Our second from John Martyn (and my second 4.5 star rating for him). Such a fantastic vibe this guy creates, I love how often his vocals can sound like mumbling nonsense, but no, he is actually saying stuff, just in a weird, ethereal ghost type voice. Also was blown away by the choice to close it with a long ambient track. Just really cool all around, this one makes me grateful for doing this list. Favorite tracks: Certain Surprise, Small Hours, Dealer, One World, Couldn't Love You More, Dancing. Album art: An insane swirl of water transporting what looks to be a mermaid and a bunch of fish to a distant shore. This shit is crazy, is John Martyn goated? 4.5/5

I didn't notice anything untoward about his voice until I saw it mentioned in a review. I certainly feel that this album needs another spin but for now it's a solid 4 with my favourite being Small Hours

Fantastisk plade. Couldn't love you more er et forrygende nummer.

This is the kind of music I imagine my mom's friends listening to and LOVING. Four-starring to come back to it later

Cool compositions! Just enough experimental for my taste, but perhaps missing some catchyness?

On first listen, in between small moments of beauty and inspiration, I found myself asking what this is trying to be. I went back to a few key tracks after a full listen and realized a second listen would be well worth it. The longer I sit with this one, the more it attracts me.

One mesmerizingly atmospheric, heartbreakingly beautiful world.

Somewhere around a 3.5-3.9

Hyvä hyvä! 4/5

Meditatiivinen kokemus. Tykkäsin Solid Airista enemmän, mutta on tääkin nelosen arvoinen platta.

honestly really liked this one. funky, relaxing, good vibes. faves were dealer and dancing.

Looking at the year and the album art, which is quite distressing, plus I've never heard of the artist, I'm not so sure about this one. Nope, I'm wrong, this is fun and funky. I may be alone in this, but I love his voice. Actually, though very 70's, it's all quite enjoyable. To listen to or to have as background.

4 of the last 5 albums have been from 1977. Crazy year Did a 180 on this album, thought it noodly & uninspired in the first little while, then something clicked on Side 2 and I had to play the album right back after it ended. Though I prefer the 2nd half to the darker, bluesier 1st- geese n' all- the contrast with the second's atmospheric lightness is super satisfying. What a lovely piece to end the album on ("Small Hours"). HL: title track, “Couldn’t Love You More”, “Dancing”, “Small Hours” later on in May 9, 2024