One World

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

Solid Air was an instant 5 for me. This one didn’t hit me quite in the same way, but I think it could get there. John Martyn is probably my greatest artist discovery of this project so far.

Man, I really had no expectations going into this, but this was fucking great. I've never heard of John Martyn. As the album progressed, I found myself really appreciating his laid back, almost slurred style of singing, along with the eclectic and chill tracks. It feels inventive, but also catchy. Listening to "Certain Surprise," he almost has a Nick Drake-esque quality to his voice. These are the discoveries I love having from this project. I'm not surprised to see the negative reviews on this site for it, but I am disappointed that people seem to have dismissed "One World" simply for being British. The Brits are good at music. Sorry!

For sure some joe cocker vibes going on, he must have gotten that a bit... Update,more then just British joe cocker But some decent stuff in here, big muff is a bop. 3 +ish, bit too much easy listening tracks to kinda dilute it

Kinda got into this weird little album. Especially the 1st song, Big Muff and Dancing. Smooth guitar playing and rough vocals gives it a nice texture, and it kinda rocks in an unassuming way. Reminds me a little of Dan Reader (check out Havana Burning, great song) in that it sounds like it was recorded in his bedroom, but in a good way? One too many downbeat noodling songs to hit greatness as an album, but I think I'll be listening to 'Dancing' all summer.

From the first track, I thought this like Steve Wynwood project and sure enough there he is in the credits! Need to go back and listen to Arc Diver again.

Side one of this album is really great, enjoyed the lowfi dub guitar trickery going on. Side two is slower and isn't fully my thing. Dancing is oddly catchy and my brain is telling me to enjoy it in a weird Christopher Cross artpop kind of way. Small Hours is good for a closer. I really would like that earlier vibe on that album for start to finish though. Otherwise not too bad, rest in power to the legend Lee Scratch Perry.

Aldrig hört talas om innan. Älskar skiten!

Vet inte vad jag förväntade mig men det var inte det här. Kul!

Musik som får mig att känna mig lätt och sensuell med ett härligt drag genom linnebyxorna. Ja, som Sting helt enkelt.

Es wirkt heute wie ein entspanntes, schimmerndes Echo seiner Zeit. Folk, Jazz und Dub fließen ineinander, getragen von Echoplex‑Gitarren und diesem offenen, fast luftigen Klang, der teils unter freiem Himmel aufgenommen wurde. Stücke wie „Big Muff“ oder „Dancing“ zeigen seine Experimentierfreude, ohne die Wärme zu verlieren. Das Album fühlt sich an wie ein freundlicher Gruß aus den 70ern: weich, atmosphärisch, leicht melancholisch und überraschend modern gedacht.

i liked that more than i thought i would. pretty fresh sounding for 1977.

The best word that comes to mind to sum up this album is "groovy." It's mellow and funky and clean. A great recommendation for the Cowboy Bebop lover in your life. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did. "Small Hour" was the favorite track. It's an experience.

Second album by this artist that I didn’t know before I started this project. I didn’t like it as much as the last one, but still enjoyed enough to give the same rating.

Very cozy singer-songwriter record with strong jazz overtones. I was immediately captivated by the opening track "Couldn't Love You More". It sounds like something you'd sing by the campifire, but a very sophisticated campfire. I really liked this one, and I never hear of John Martyn outside the context of this book, so I'm not sure what exactly is his legacy. Probably should be more well konwn. Key tracks: Couldn't Love You More Certain Surprise Dancing

Musically very nice, vocally not great.

Fun, creative, at times beautiful. It is just another flavor of the prog psyche rock umbrella but I liked it. Closing track was epic.

I find John Martyn albums interesting. His vocal styles can be a little quirky, or kinda mumbly, but the general vibe of the albums I've heard (and its only 2 so far) are unique and refreshing. This one is no exception. A solid 4.

305/1089 okay this cover looks interesting. the sound is groovy! the voice and whether it clicks for me is what’ll make or break this i think so i think there are parts of these songs that i REALLY like and then the rest is just nice, like i can see versions of these that i love hut they’re still nice. Dancing is a key example of this, it has some really nice parts in the verses/post-choruses but the chorus doesn’t quite match it for me an extended instrumental intro for the final track?? i am SO here for that a relisten might be needed fave: Dancing, Small Hours 76/100

Pretty cool. You can hear a lot of subsequent musicians in this, from Newton Faulkner to Ahnohni in the vocal style.

This album is a gift that you will have to listen to twice to understand its musical hidden treasures. Original vocal that is not necessarily meant for you to hear the lyrics, although they are not bad too.

Psychedelic yacht rock, I can dig it

**One World** (1977) is widely regarded as the creative apex of John Martyn's career—a record where the Scottish singer-songwriter fused folk, jazz, reggae, and dub into a seamless, emotionally raw soundscape. Recorded during a turbulent period of marital collapse and substance abuse, the album channels personal chaos into sonic innovation, making it one of the most forward-looking records of the late 1970s. --- ### **Production & Sound** The album was produced by Chris Blackwell at Island Records' rural studio in Theale, Berkshire. Blackwell's role was crucial; Martyn later admitted he had lost confidence in his own judgment and entrusted Blackwell to select the final tracklist from extensive sessions . The production is defined by Martyn's pioneering use of the **Echoplex** tape delay unit, creating cascading, dub-influenced guitar textures that were virtually unprecedented in British folk-rock. Perhaps the most famous production choice was recording **"Small Hours"** outdoors at night beside a lake, using the water's natural surface as a reverb chamber and capturing ambient sounds like geese and wind . This wasn't mere gimmickry—it created an organic, immersive atmosphere that critics later compared to ambient music pioneers. The sessions also featured **Steve Winwood** on keyboards and bass, and a collaboration with dub legend **Lee "Scratch" Perry**, who co-wrote "Big Muff" after a breakfast encounter involving animal-shaped teacups . --- ### **Musical Style** *One World* is effectively split into two distinct halves. **Side One** is experimental and rhythm-driven: "Dealer" opens with a muscular Moog synth bassline and heavy percussion, while "Smiling Stranger" layers tabla, saxophone, and strings into a brooding, exotic soundscape . "Big Muff" is the clearest reggae/dub fusion, with Perry's influence audible in the reverb-drenched bass and Martyn's vocal "performing abrupt disappearances" across the stereo field . **Side Two** retreats into introspective balladry. "Couldn't Love You More" is a stark acoustic plea featuring Winwood's organ, while "Certain Surprise" incorporates Latin-tinged rhythms and trombone . The closing "Small Hours" is largely instrumental—an eight-minute meditation of delayed guitar figures and ambient natural sounds that builds to a brief, heartbreaking vocal before dissolving back into atmosphere . --- ### **Lyrics & Themes** The lyrics reflect Martyn's psychological state in 1977: estranged from his wife Beverley, struggling with addiction, and deeply cynical about the music industry. He described the business as "a totally heartless industry, which is dependent on falsehood for its survival" . - **"Dealer"** addresses addiction directly with cynical defiance: *"Well, I cannot be your lover... And I will not be your friend"* - **"One World"** offers a paradoxically isolating vision of global unity—Martyn stated the theme needed no explanation: *"regardless of political boundaries it is one world whether you like it or not"* . The realization leaves him "cold and lonely" . - **"Couldn't Love You More"** is a devastating love song to Beverley: *"If you laid all night in the rain for me, I couldn't love you more"* - **"Dancing"** reveals the insecurity of the musician's life, fearing his partner's infidelity while he's on tour - **"Small Hours"** distills the album's emotional core—love as both ruin and redemption: *"They say you'll be my ruin, but I just don't care / 'Cause I love you so"* --- ### **Influence & Legacy** *One World* is frequently cited as a **proto-trip-hop** record. Its dubby, echoing soundscapes and emphasis on atmosphere over structure directly influenced **Massive Attack**, **Portishead**, and the broader Bristol scene of the 1990s . Jah Wobble called "Smiling Stranger" "one of the great moments in dub" , while Simon Reynolds noted that "Small Hours" anticipated the Durutti Column and Factory Records' post-punk experimentalism . The album also bridged Martyn's earlier folk period with the slicker, more pop-oriented direction he would pursue on *Grace and Danger* (1980) . Despite reaching only #54 in the UK charts upon release, it has grown in reputation to rival *Solid Air* (1973) as his definitive work . --- ### **Pros** | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Sonic Innovation** | Pioneering use of Echoplex, outdoor recording, and dub techniques created a template for trip-hop and ambient music decades later | | **Emotional Authenticity** | No pop-music artifice; lyrics confront addiction, marital collapse, and isolation with brutal honesty | | **Musical Range** | Seamlessly moves between aggressive funk-rock, reggae-dub, acoustic balladry, and ambient soundscapes without losing cohesion | | **Vocal Performance** | Martyn's slurred, jazz-influenced delivery functions as an instrument, conveying weariness and wounded soulfulness | | **"Small Hours"** | Frequently cited as one of the most beautiful recordings in his catalog—a masterclass in ambient guitar and natural sound design | | **Collaborations** | Steve Winwood and Lee Perry add genuine musical weight rather than celebrity window-dressing | --- ### **Cons** | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Vocal Accessibility** | Martyn's slurred, smoky delivery can be off-putting to first-time listeners—some critics compare it to "an old man on quaaludes" | | **Production Datedness** | The Moog synth and certain rhythmic choices firmly anchor parts of the album in the late 1970s, which some listeners find cheesy or indulgent | | **Uneven Pacing** | Side One's experimental density contrasts sharply with Side Two's acoustic introspection; the shift can feel disjointed to some | | **"Smiling Stranger"** | Some critics consider this track overcrowded or meandering, with its multitude of instruments (tabla, sax, strings, Moog) failing to cohere | | **Commercial Obscurity** | Despite critical acclaim, the album was a commercial failure, suggesting its challenging sound limited its contemporary reach | | **Lyrical Opacity** | Songs like "Big Muff" are deliberately silly (born from Perry's teacup humor), which can undermine the album's otherwise serious tone | --- ### **Verdict** *One World* is a masterpiece of wounded introspection and sonic boundary-pushing. It captures an artist at his most vulnerable and most adventurous, translating personal crisis into music that feels simultaneously timeless and ahead of its time. While the production choices and vocal style may require patience from modern listeners, the album rewards deep engagement with its rich emotional landscape and groundbreaking sound design. It stands not just as John Martyn's finest hour, but as a missing link between British folk, Jamaican dub, and the electronic music that would dominate the following decades.

I had never heard of John Martyn until around a year ago. I listened to "Solid Air" after reading a Sunday Review on Pitchfork. I wish I would have heard of Martyn before. His voice is great but what really stands out is how he is unafraid to be very weird and different from other singers of his ilk and time. I think "Solid Air" is slightly better but this is a tremendous album.

This is the first album that I had 0 context for. I was completely unaware of this record. I really enjoyed the instrumental textures and overall vibe of the record. I don't feel as strongly about the songwriting. I wouldn't think of these as "songs" in the traditional sense, but more "emotional outpourings". I'm very glad to have discovered it. I'll definitely be giving it more listens in the future.

First full sitting of a John Martyn album. Must say so much better than expected. Quality chilled stuff and this fella can sing. 4.2/5.

A lot of these reviews were negative, but I think they’re wrong. 4

An album that takes a while to adjust to, with some effective mood pieces which outweigh continuing grating elements. There's an overriding lounge element to the album, sometimes annoyingly, especially humming all the sibilance such that it becomes "zweet 'Zertain Zurprize'". More positively there's a continuing undercurrent of ambience that increases in effectiveness as the album progress and culminates in the excellent 'Small Hours' - what could be a showcase for guitar pedals, is actually slowly built into an Eno-worthy atmospheric masterpiece.

Excellent album for a Sunday morning- very chilled. Bonus fact, my mother in law used to gig with JM back in the day. Favourite track: Small Hours

Number: 104 Date: 04/16/2026 Artist: John Martyn Album: One World Year: 1977 Genre: Experimental Folk Pop Familiarity: None Notes: Before: ======= Another new to me, 2 days in a row. Hmm, that would be an interesting statistic to track. During: ======= This is reminding of Young Jesus who is a contemporary artist that I have recently discovered and really like. Reading about him in Wikipedia, looks like the dude was pretty prolific and well respected by many popular artists. 4 Dealer 4 One World 3 Smiling Stranger 3 Big Muff 4 Couldn't Love You More 3 Certain Surprise 4 Dancing 3 Small Hours ----------------------------------------------------- 3.41 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= 3 my personal rating 5 suitability for this list 4 impact ----------------------------------------------- 4 composite rating

Second album from an artist I’d never heard of before this project, and I enjoyed it again. It’s pretty easy listening, but there’s some interesting stuff in it that makes it enjoyable. It’s another 4/5

Another in my collection that I haven't played I years. Perhaps not my Favourite John Martyn album but one that worth a listen

Amazing, loved the album as a whole experience. Interesting vocals, very creative album, so many different styles, all of them sound fresh. It reminded me of PiL and Slowdive

I love some John Martyn but first time hearing this. Loved the dubby, spacey feel of songs like Big Muff. Also best geese on a record before or after Cameron Winter.

Calming and strange and occasionally the vibes are very reminiscent of Portishead. I dig.

Small hours was a ride. Very feels based

This album is very simplistic, but in a refreshing way. I absolutely love the fact that they recorded it in nature to give it such an immersive and natural effect. Each song starts out extremely engaging, but kinda goes on a little too long every time, making them feel empty in the end. Beautiful content though.

Not sure why but I didn't find this album anywhere near as compelling as other John Martyn stuff to which I've listened (Solid Air, mostly) but, let's be honest, his worst beats most people's best.

First time out for this album. A very nice surprise, a unique voice, and some very haunting chords.

Good album. It's hard to find a bad album from the 70s.

Haven’t heard of this before. Intrigued by the mermaid (merMAN?) on the cover. Overall really enjoyed this one, it surprised me! If you think you could go for a late-night 70s, psychedelic-yacht rock album then this is one worth spending time with. Four stars only because I found Big Muff awkward in the middle.

# Album Name: One World # Artist: John Martyn # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Crispy voice. Nice use of instruments. Has quite a groovy feel. A very enjoyable album. # Top Tunes: Dealer / big muff / love you more / small hours # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Gear: Hifiman HE6se v2 SE Artwork: 🌊🧜🐠 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 😌💭🏝️ Rating: 🌍🌎🌏(🌍)/5

Beautiful, weird and beautiful. It made me remember Solid Air, that I used to listen to regularly a couple of years ago, so apparently I seem to really like John Martyn.

growing on me a little

Banger

Steve Winwood meets Dub?! After listening to the first three songs, I was ready to move on from Martyn, but then I realized (via the last half of the record) that he can write some tuneful and textured folk-pop. Vocally, I prefer when he sounds more like Nick Drake than (a more strangled) Joe Cocker, but overall, his guitar work and artsy hooks are pretty enjoyable.

78/100. A really cozy record. The whole album feels warm and spacious, with a relaxed, late night atmosphere running through it.

Запись осталась загадкой, нужно еще послушать.

Album generator is doing it’s best to prove to mw that 77 was a high water mark for music. The lesser known Wilson’s album followed straight up by this. As an aside Steve Winwood was busy in the 70’s. As an electronica fan i gotta give this album props. Some quite interesting ideas on the is album and not laborious but i get through like some experimental stuff can be. A couple of aings also have a laid back acidy/trip hop type feel - Big Muff. In all a nice surprise this album.

Pretty good.

Full sound, really interesting stuff, never heard of this guy

Me sorprendió este álbum. Experimental pero también jazzero y melancólico. Muy buena guitarra

oooh, i kinda dig this, it wasn't a fan of his voice in the beginning, but now I feel like I'm getting used to it. Also, because it was written in a time where people valued quality over quantity of tracks, the tracks are pretty long, which is a bit of the refreshment.

Good use of echoplex...and Small Hours is a favorite.

I have dabbled in John Martyn discography just a little bit without even really ever realizing it, but now that I have been assigned his 1977 album One World to listen in full for the 1001 albums to hear before you die queue. Looking at the genres I was quite intrigued to see Singer-Songwriter, Prog Folk, and Post-Rock all in the same category together and yet I have to say I was quite impressed with how well structured this project turned out to be. This project doesn't feel as adventurous as most Progressive projects I am familiar with yet does tie itself together in some very beautiful ways throughout the entire 37 minute runtime. Even when this album rolls an Ambient track seemingly out of nowhere to close out this album it somehow really fits the overall narrative John crafted the entire time. All in all the production on this project is extremely impressive and the way John miraculously fits himself into the music further helps cement this as quite a sleeper hit in my eyes. Really happy this turned out to be a decent bit better than I expected and hopefully I will continue to find these hidden gems across the entire list because I am quite impressed.

8/10 Favorite: Dancing

ממש הופתעתי לטובה. אולי האלבום הכי טוב שגיליתי פה עד עכשיו

I had never heard of John Martyn before this. Wow! What a talent. The album was funky, cool, bluesy, and soulful. There were a few times I caught myself daydreaming about dancing to a few of these tunes at an outdoor fest in my flowiest skirt and flower crown on with my danciest friends.

This was another cool discovery from an artist I had never heard of before. Music was smooth and complex, and the voice grabbed me throughout. Strong listen and curious to check out more of the works from what appears to be a 40 years career!

soothing

This was a good listen! I really liked the last track.

I've somehow reached my mid-50s as a British music fan without ever having heard of John Martyn. I liked this, I loved the way he was playing around with 70s grooves and tech, whilst keeping an older blues/rock sensibility. His singing style sounded heartfelt. Some of it lacks a bit of "cool" perhaps, as smooth 70s rock can do. I found the last track quite emotional and haunting. I enjoyed it, but am unsure whether I'll seek it out again.

I wasn’t excited for the album after hearing the first song, but I think the album steadily got better!

Chill

Gorgeous good studying or reading music

I had never heard of John Martyn or any songs on this album before, so I went in blind. I listened to it a couple times, and it grew on me as I listened more. Love the grooviness of most of the album, great instrumentation. The vocalist grew on me. I heard some resemblance between the lead singer and Joe Cocker and Nina Simone at times lol. The standout track for me was Small Hours. Kinda gave me whiplash because it was SO different from the rest of the album. Small Hours is BEAUTIFUL!!! Honestly brought this album up a whole half point for that song alone. 4/5.

Solid stuff.

Good melody and vocals. Calming.

Not as soothing as Solid Air but an enjoyable listen

1/1/26. Happy new year! Definitely a unique album on this album ride, not sure about the vocals, but it fits right in with the music. A lot of layers in the arrangement and enjoyed the cool progression choices. Will need another listen.

A beautiful album to end off the year with. This touched my heart with its simplicity and meaningful vocals; it doesn't quite get up there with the best of the best of what I've heard but it's unabashedly beautiful in how straight to the point it is and I really respect it for that. Also, very fitting for the last album of the year!

A surprise for sure. Boppy.

I've heard Martyn's more acoustic based music (older?). This adds some funk/disco/horn sounds. Good ole smooth 70s stuff. Pretty nice.

One of my favourite voices ever. Possibly in his noodling phase, playing with eco boxes and synthesisers. Dealer is great and big muff is good. Some other songs a bit monotonous. And please no saxophone

Two John Martyns in a week. Not bad! Less acoustic guitar here, more... fusion? Opener 'Dealer' is jazzy with a bit of funk and sounds decidedly modern for 1977. It's a great multilayered piece of pop rock, gravelly vocals over synth bass. The title track is much more laid back, but the synths come back in Smiling Stranger. Still slow, but cinematic and quite weird and rambling (which continues in the lengthier Big Muff). Then on the second side, Couldn't Love You More sounds like the previous Martyn I listened to with distinctive slapped acoustic guitar and music box-like keyboards. The tempo is ramped up again for the next couple tracks - I especially liked the catchy 'Dancing', bass intertwining with heavily processed guitar. Small Hours is the closer and it's almost ambient, or maybe new age, with reverb laden synths before the vocals come in for a bit. Almost no drums and it's quite beautiful. Not perfect as an album, but overall very interesting & I'm happy to have learned about Martyn.

Very 70's album this, from the Prog-like album cover to the Progressive, Folky Pop music inside. I really liked Martyn's guitar playing on this record and he manages to blend some fun musical styles together in an overall pleasant album. The Guitar Playing and Trip Hop tinges have this really hypnotic charm to them. His voice was very soft but it suited the album well.

4.5 - fantastic album

I enjoyed this record, the end was a really good ambient track, just some good music

Great!

John Martyn’s Solid Air was the first album i gave 5 stars to on this list so i’m glad to get another one of his in my last couple albums. super cool as expected, lower energy than Solid Air but not necessarily a bad thing. some cool almost ambient stuff going on, especially in that last track

Like so many albums I've listened to through this project, I really like the musical style of this one, but am not especially keen on the sound of the vocalist. If it was possible to give 3.5 stars for this album, I would. However, in line with what the project summary describes as my generous rating style, I will round up to four.

Quietly gorgeous and atmospheric experimental music with elements of dub. I miss his gorgeous vocals and melodies, but I still found this dreamy and beautiful.

4 stars

John Martyn and Echoplex go for a big long bender in Jamaica and to great results. A very chill, spacey, folky, poppy, dubby blend with not so much Super Fuzz but certainly some excellent Big Muff and a startlingly supreme serene highlight at the end with Small Hours.

Good

Interesting and enjoyable

Folkie gone quirky. Good album with his original song that became one of my favorites of Clapton.

Pretty groovy and jazzy and chill, easy to listen to in the background.

ooh this was quite good actually

I know nothing of John Martyn, so this was an enjoyable surprise. "Dealer" had me expecting British yacht rock—and it's not NOT that—but that's a lazy descriptor. I'm not sure how to classify this, which seems to be a common thing for Martyn's music. I wouldn't have expected to like this, much less save a couple tracks on playlists, but here we are. I'm gonna check out some of his other stuff too.

I was familiar with John Martyn only through the song Sweet Little Mystery which is an amazing underappreciated gem. This is really great, kind of a dark, slightly trippy yacht rock. I feel like on repeat listenings this could go up to 5 stars.

Is it considered poor form to give one review multiple thumbs up? Because the person who described this as 'yacht prog' has got it bang on. That's a genre I didn't know I needed in my life. (I also like the way Martyn draws on dub influences without lurching into awkward white reggae territory.)

This is pretty cool. Probably won't come back to it but a fun album

Very pleasant instrumentation. My favourites were Certain Surprise and Dancing.

Nei, det va nu en fyr som tralla i vei på en funky gitar og også sang litt. Det va ikke så ille, men det va ikke helt uimotståelig fantastisk heller.

This is a very peaceful and relaxing album—I like it! Good for a rainy morning like today. “Small Hours” ended just as the sky cleared up and the sun came out. There’s something transcendent about that being accompanied by gentle guitar and keyboard and bells.

this was good, kinda weird

good background music

Fav: Small Hours Least Fav: Big Muff That album cover is beautiful, and I think it accurately reflects the music with the last song being the obvious example

Even with a number of quite upbeat tracks, this is an album of peace and serenity. Bathe in the ambience, relax, drift away. The production feels incredible, I think it might have been recorded outdoors or something, it just feels so spacious and alive and the sounds of nature really enhance this vibe. The vocals are sometimes delicate, sometimes more gruff. Along with the guitar licks, they feel close and intimate in contrast to the other more expansive sounds. The little sporadic ambient moments, when listened to through headphones, almost give me an ASMR like feeling. Favourite track - Small Hours (defines everything i love about this album). 8.5/10

Nice

Let's be honest, he sounds absolutely smashed here (and he probably was). Elements of folk blend with what feels like smattering of fusion but his own quality and the backing musician's quality shine through. Best Tracks: Dealer; Couldn't Love You More; Dancing

What an interesting album! John Martyn blends jazz, folk and rock from a huge array of influences into something new and unique. After the first song I expected one type of album, but by the end he had somehow traversed across all those genres, weaving together something pretty extraordinary. While at times I thought the experimentation may have distracted a bit from some of the subtle beauty the album had, in the end it all felt cohesive and part of something bigger. After listening to it once I had to put it on a second time to try to understand what I had just listened to. I think if I listened again a couple more times this album could almost work its way into a perfect score. I will probably put this on again soon and definitely won't soon forget this artist and album that someone flew below my radar until now.

I enjoyed it

20/09/2005 Good album. Spotify listeners: 754.3k

Love.

It's like I got transported to a car driving on the highway, going 70 miles per hour, in total harmony with the world. Really liked this one.

This album is understandingly divisive. The first song is, quite honestly, horrible. But if you stick it out (which isn’t that hard, it’s a shorter album) each song is better than the last.

Love to see folks like this, keeping it weird for all us sinners. Called out specifically in a recent Slits documentary as a reason Island records was tight. Anyway, not all for me, but its going for something, his singing is weird as shit, and that dealer song's catchier than anything has a right to be. Geese on the finale! Let me in!

I loved the sound, the vibe. Pretty chill album overall

Interesting gutiar

I was oh so excited to see this name cross my screen, as his Solid Air album was such a pleasant surprise on first listen. 5 years on from that album and it sounds once again like John has lived his years with a fullness. I think it was his intention to represent that with a very gritty vocal delivery on the opening "Dealer". Martyn takes a dive back into his more soulful delivery over the next few songs - I particularly loooove "Smiling Stranger". The bubbly instrumental, the strings that come soaring in, and John Martyn's ability to embody a character/scene is immersive. The wah pedal delay sound on "Big Muff" is the kinda stuff I've come to appreciate so much with this guy - little sounds with a lot of thought behind their recording techniques and placement in the composition of each song. Martyn excels at bringing in an experimental jazz ethos that drives him to create such distinct senses of *space* on his recordings. He is more than confident in letting instrumental sections air out into very placid atmospheres for minutes on end. I was digging "Couldnt Love You More" for similar reasons, then "Certain Surprise" just took things over the top for me! The bossanova style rhythym, Johns mumbly singing of a KILLER hook, then that lazy trumpet halfway through?!? What a trip. It's been a while since I stopped an albums tracklisting from playing out in order to replay a song - this one got my rare replay award. "Dancing" was a lowlight for me. It seemed a bit like a half cooked mashup of inspirations taken from equal parts Fleetwood Mac & The Doobie Brothers. Not a horrible song, but not great and didn't sit well in the track sequencing. All's well that ends well though, with John playing an echoey, post-rock style guitar on the closing "Small Hours" in a manner that makes you wonder 'did this guy just lay down a This Will Destroy You instrumental 30 years before the band even formed??' Seriously unreal. I had to look this guy up once this record finished - two stellar efforts in a row warrants some research. It's a shame he went through some rough times and was abusive to his partner for a while, likely around the time of this album. You can hear the trouble in his voice. I'll be curious to do some more listening of different projects during different times in his life. STRONG 4/5!

Cool sound

A variety of styles that, for the era, calls to mind a British Harry Nilsson (although not quite the vocalist that Nilsson was).

I’d listen to this again. Really enjoyed it

Lovely vocals and a sinuous special sound before its time.

This is on the list but not Spirit of Eden? What the hell kind of shit is that? I love this though, never heard anything else like it.

Opening track put me off, but the moody vibe of the second one pulled me in. The rest of the album is filled with sneaky grooves and warm melodies. There’s even a song about Big Muffs inspired by a convo with Lee Scratch Perry. What more could you ask for?

This is one world where I enjoyed this listen though I will not revisit this one world 3.5

Very cool and soulful, forward looking acoustic rock. Small Hours is a particular highlight. Bit of filler tho

This feels like a lot of time went into crafting each song, thinking about the precise timings & effects of every note, all there for a purpose, creating a soundscape that must have influenced a lot later work Timeless

Sent me down a John Martyn rabbit hole. Great stuff

A really interesting listen. A more diverse album than I was expecting having only really heard Solid Air previously. Added to my "have to find on vinyl" list.

84% Best: Dealer; Big Muff; Small Hours Must-Hear? Sure. Once again the average rating on this site is absurd.

Yesterday my wife told me that she doesn't believe into our relationship anymore. We're married for 20 years. I'm in shock. She's still the love of my life. I don't want to let her go. When I listened to Small Hours I had tears in my eyes: »They say you'll be my ruin Cos I love you so I just love you so« That's exactly how I feel. I learned that Martyn was facing a disintegrating marriage. I see the problem of this album (I thought it was in a phone waiting line at the first seconds of the album), but it touched me personally more than any album off this list so far.

Meer tijdloze muziek van deze relatief onbekende baas. Wederom klinkt het alsof het veertig jaar later opgenomen had kunnen zijn door iemand als Jack Johnson. De uit-mijn-stoel-veer-van-pure-extase-factor is wat minder dan de vorige keer, het kabbelt een beetje en er wordt wat vrijblijvend op het keyboard gepingeld, maar verder goed gedaan.

Het eerste nummer heet Dealer. Het is duidelijk wat John 'top of mind' had. En dat hoor je ook wel aan de stem. Maar John weet dat zwakke rokerige geluid bij dit nummer eigenlijk goed te gebruiken. Bij volgende nummers komen zang en muziek hierdoor wat los van elkaar te staan. Soms jammer, want er zitten muzikaal leuke vondsten tussen. Zo doet Big Muff mij iets denken aan het veel recentere Propellorheads. (Ik lees nu dat het een samenwerking met Lee Perry is.) Aan de andere kant draagt de stem bij aan een uniek geluid. Al met al een leuk schijfje om eens te leren kennen. Ik heb het met plezier geluisterd. 3,5 ster

Enjoyed this very much. There's some world class bass playing giving reggae/dub music vibes thanks to the highly versatile Dave Pegg! Lee "Scratch" Perry's guest star influence on Big Muff, and other tracks, brings the heavy groove. Also note that the legendary Steve Winwood is jamming synths on Dealer. This is an all-star effort that only faults when it slowed down too much (IMO) on One World and almost lost me.

My first exposure to John Martyn was in the mid-1990s when I saw him at a festival called Guiness Fleadh. I was killing time waiting for Richard Thompson to take the stage and got a seat for Martyn's show. Martyn's music mesmerized me. When I heard him cover Portishead's "Glory Box," I was blown away--good covers are a difficult proposition. Now to read in the Wikipedia review of this album that it was an influence on trip hop and that he spent time in Jamaica before its recording...I'm excited by the experimental nature of it. Reminds me a bit of Kevin Ayers, too.

What a weird album. I wasn’t familiar with it before and had to listen to it twice to let it wash over me. Way ahead of its time but also unlike anything else. Not convinced that I enjoyed it but there was enough interesting ideas to keep me engaged and intrigued.

Was pleasantly surprised by this one!

This was pretty good

Pretty cool funky. Didn’t like the slow songs as much. Nice active listening experience

Don't have much to say asides it just being a decent album. Solid 4 Stars.

His voice is a bit jarring at first but once you get into the album, his voice matters less and less

This was pretty interesting. Some of the poppier stuff just reminded me of Steely Dan, but not nearly as catchy. The real draw here is the more ambient tracks. Small Hours was a great way to close this one out. 3.5/5? 4/5? Let's go with 3.75/5. That feels good.

Surely must be an Inspiration to Talk Talk, Who should have more here.

Can something be called etheral funk? This sounds so out of time in the 70s. I would love to hear more of this.

This would probably get another star if the singers voice wasn’t so…. Yeah. The music is other wise pretty fantastic.

Surprisingly good, I've never even heard of the guy before but I quite enjoyed it

Really cool novel sound with mellow jazz inspiration and emotive vocals

This was great, wierd and wonderful. Will need to come back to this, but amazing that this was created in the 70s

I knew one song from the album already, I enjoyed the album as a whole

John Martyn made music that increasingly came and went like vapor, but whose scent lingered long enough to leave a mark on those who came upon it. One World, the hazy yet contemplative sojourn in sound conjured up in Jamaica, is one of those imprints. Martyn is untethered yet content, seeking salvation in the atmosphere both physical and spiritual, aided by those who were on the same wavelength as him. Yet another peak from someone who should be more widely regarded than he is. Favorites: Dealer, One World, Big Muff, Couldn't Love You More, Dancing.

Truly interesting record

Really enjoyed this. Funky. Bluesy. Fusion-y. Ambient. 4 stars.

A very unique album that lead the way towards huge developments in popularizing dub, inspiring the trip-hop genre, and even reaching out to the modern EDM scene of today. I like the story of personal disillusionment and how working with new artists in new places brought such significant change. I know Scratch from other sources but didn't expect him to show up on a seemingly random album.

Not as good as the other John Martyn album album we heard but still pretty cool. He really must have been a massive influence on Ray Lamontagne's vocal and musical styles. And I love Ray Lamontagne.

Oh boy. I've never heard of John Martyn but this album cover is something. Very 1977. So my jaw actually dropped when the vocals kicked in on the opening track, but luckily the weird growly rasping vocals aren't the style he uses throughout the whole album. The vocals on "One World", for instance, I found really lovely. The super dubby wet synths on "Smiling Stranger" are wild. Overall I preferred the back half of this album. "Certain Surprise" and "Dancing" were probably my favorite two tracks on the album. "Couldn't Love You More" is really sweet, and "Small Hours" is a really cool atmospheric meandering outro. This was a really interesting album. Very strange, and undeniably quite charming. Would definitely listen again. Playlist track: "Certain Surprise"

Really enjoyed this one it’s got a bluesy funky feel while not being overblown with it. This is a good time and I loved his voice

miten voi olla näin absoluuttisesti vittu päissään? vähän edes pliis pikkasen edes selventyä ennen kun astuu studioon PLIIIIIS! muuten mielestäni mahtavaa mahtavaa musiikkia! BIG MUFF! kova mies mutta ei koskaan julma. tämä on steely dan mutta hyvä. kaksi kättä nyrkissä lähellä kehoa sykkii ylös alasin, suu kuin linnan rautaristikko nostettu ylös avoauki kammion syövereihin matkustaa vaikka hyönteisiä mutta ei häiritse.. BIG MUFF! ei mikään häiritse kyynärpäät viety taakse kuin selkälihasliikkeessä mutta nyrkit vaan liikkuu ylös alas tahtiin tahtiin tahtiin! musiiikki vienyt, musiikki hurmannut, se on tyrmännyt ja lumonnut ja haltioitunut mies on kateissa.. mies on edessäni mutta eksynyt!!! ei löydä tietään kotiin hänet on noiduttu. one world

This album was so relaxing!! I completely chilled out with that last song, beautiful stuff 4 ⭐️

Glad I went back to this. Very underwhelmed first listen (while out, on earbuds). Tried again in the evening, on decent headphones, and it was like a different album. Ended up listening to it twice, and appreciating it more each time.

I think this is a supremely cool record. Nice and diverse. Martyn's guitar work is excellent, and I don't have any problems with him vocally; he gives me Mark Knopfler and JJ Cale vibes at times, albeit a bit more expressive. "Dealer", the title track, "Big Muff", and "Small Hours" are my favorites at the moment, but I dig everything well enough. This could rise for me in the future. 4/5

From the cover I was expecting some prog stuff. I was definitely not ready for what it actually is. What a thing of beauty.

This one surprised me. I really enjoyed it. He reminds me of a funkier version of Nick Drake. Looking forward to listening to more of his stuff.

Very good album, defiently surprised me. And especially last track was good

Spacious, with great vocals and some wonderful grooves

Wow, toujours down pour un ptit trip d’héroïne auditif

A brilliant artist whose best work stands the test of time. A phenomenal and experimental guitarist, gifted songwriter, and excellent vocalist he moved between a huge range of styles effortlessly - jazz, blues, folk, reggae, he played them all and did it well. Sadly his demons destroyed him as he fought with drug and alcohol abuse. Although not his very best work, this album is still in the first rank of his oeuvre.

What a great album! Another artist I missed completely. I don't know how to describe his music other than singular. Coming from the British folk tradition of the sixties, he then drew from Jamaican music, jazz, funk, blues and developed a new style of music all his own. Now I'm going to have to explore his entire catalog. What a happy surprise!

Better than expected

Good, ethereal-sounding music for the background or if you're stoned.

what a treat, never heard before and l loved it 4.5

Not much to say about this, fairly relaxing nothing too stand out but a pleasant listen

Wasn't bad. Enjoyed this album

Has a really nice voice

Despite loving Solid Air by John Martyn for years. I have rarely delved into his catalog. While there is little in this album to bewitch me to the same degree, One World is a solid record. Steve Winwood is featured fairly heavily on organ and Moog which does date it slightly, and Martyn’s guitar is processed more frequently than on Solid Air, where it made more impact. As a whole, the album is chilled and soothing, and the closing Sammy Hours is excellent.

By turns moody and groovy, the singing gets a bit moany and mumbly. Pretty engaging and serious overall, quite the balancing act between heavy and dreamy. Sounds like a sedated Joe Cocker at times. JM’s not a skillful enough singer to pull off the range-shifting and lighter tone of “Certain Surprise” and the title cut features excessively obscure, noncommittal vocals, such that it could barely be called singing. In contrast, the playing is continually excellent (see “Dancing” especially), with mellow-muddy grooves that occasionally (e.g., “Big Muff”) achieve a quiet sort of funkiness that is JJ Cale-esque. “Small Hours” is beautiful close to the record.

I enjoyed this album a lot! Funky easy listening, good for background music or if you want to deep dive and read along to the lyrics.

Did I need to hear this album before I died? No. Did I like it anyway? Yes. This feels like perfect background music

A thoroughly pleasant experience. 8/10

No idea who this artist is, nor what to expect. The Wikipedia blurb makes it sound extremely interesting, especially the part about the recording process. Going to listen especially hard for the field recordings and the background ambience. Going into it a bit tipsy after a long night with friends, so my current mental state might have an effect on the initial reaction. Subject to rereview. Dealer Lush, grand, slightly tropical instrumental. Funky bass. Keys are a highlight, alongside some tight spacial drumming. Not too sure about the vocal style, the breathiness and the smoky grit sounds unusual over such a bright and colourful instrumental. The chorus sort of flew by without leaving an impression. Did not pay much attention to the lyrics. Decent opener. 3.5/5 One World Pans nicely into a cute guitar track. Challenging incoherrent vocals. Mixing is really impressive. I think the instruments and the vocals sit exactly where they should. The delay heavy, distant electric guitar adds an element of depth to the track. After warming up to the vocals I do think they have some moments of brilliance where the stumbling meandering style really works. I don't like the choice to fade the track out when it did, makes it feel unfinished. Good song. 4/5 Smiling stranger Really funky instrumental. I find how they set up the rhythm of the track to be a real highlight. The addition of the strings in the background, alongside the sax add scale to the track, and a jazzy tinge much needed to break up the emerging monotony of the track, perfectly avoiding it. Still not in love with the vocals, though they don't bother me much. Will revisit. 4.5/5 Big Muff Jazzy drumming over a tight guitar experience. Love the effects. Clean and a bit understated. Written for a loungy, sort of sleazy vibe. The band does a lot if lifting to make a not more than decent chrous ahead of where it should be. The instrumental section at the end is decently psychedellic. Decent. 3.5/5 Couldn't Love You More A slightly strained sounding acustic guitar was unexpected. His voice works well for this time of track. Actually delivers a fairly powerful performance, though the voice stretches itself a bit too far for some parts. Decent. 3.5/5 Certain surprise Am I wrong for calling the instrumental bossa-nova-like outside the guitar? I do like the verse structure. Decently catchy. Saxophone is good though a bit lacking in flair or surprise. Gives me hotel vibes. Fade out made sense. Good. 4/5 Dancing Airy but fairly technical guitar. The bass is utilized well. The slightly chaotic guitar juxtaposes against the very structured vocal melody. Great Pre-Chorus. Well performed, tight and sticking to the plan outside a few vocal flourishes. Really fun. 4.5/5 Small Hours Spacious, echoy, great ambience. The natural atmospheric sound add an unpredictable element to the track. Uplifting guitar playing, great delay. Echoes nicely, though the varying loudness makes it sound sharp at times. Reminds me a bit of a late "Talk Talk" track. I think the vocals work well here, they have a serenity to them and a bit of intimacy in their brief cameo. The change of guitars really gives you something additional to latch yourself onto over the ambience. Paints an introspective soundscape with a sense of melancholy though also acceptance. Refreshing and powerful. Stellar track. 5/5 Really did not expect to like that as much as I did. Decently varied, loungy and a bit jazzy with era appropriate production that still sounds oddly good, when many of the choices could sound dated to modern ears. Spaces itself out, and while the vocals take some time getting used to, they do actually add an interesting element to the tracks, though I do think some of the strange inflections also detract from them. There's just a laid back soothing energy about the entire project that really kept me interested. The pseudo-ambient/early post-rock adjacent final track really sealed the deal for me painting a beautiful picture with sound. A great album worthy of revisiting. Fave track. Small Hours Least fave track. Couldn't Love You More

Solid Air, but with a touch of 70’s funk

The voice was a jumpscare not gonna lie but I fuck with it. Favorite tracks: - Couldn't Love You More

Thumbs up!

Moją ulubioną rzeczą w tej liście jest odkrywanie perełek wśród albumów, po których niczego się nie spodziewałem, stworzonych przez muzyków, o których nigdy wcześniej nie słyszałem. "One World" jest jedną z takich płyt. Dostałem kompaktowy album bez żadnych wypychaczy i zapełniaczy, każda piosenka jest bardzo dopracowana, o oryginalnym brzmieniu. Bez ostatniego utworu, który jest bardziej muzycznym pejzażem o bardzo post-modernistycznym brzmieniu, wszystko zamknęłoby się w trzydziestu minutach. W tym krótkim czasie dostajemy siedem naprawdę solidnych, zróżnicowanych utworów. Funkowo-psychodeliczne brzmienie oraz ochrypły i jakby wycofany wokal Martyna bardzo przypadły mi do gustu. "Przyduszony" - to jest chyba słowo, którego szukałem. "Dealer" i "Dancing" to moi faworyci, ale w zasadzie każdy utwór na tej płycie mi się bardzo podobał.

Did i become one with the world after listetning to this album? But i got around 70% there so with simple art of Math i think the score is 3/5.

Great example of classic Chicago blues. Who doesn’t love Muddy Waters?

Enjoyed this

Interesting and ahead of its time

Really good

This had me Dancing with a Smiling Stranger.

I have to confess I'd never heard of John Martyn before, but that album was an unexpected treat to listen to. Every track brought a new musical idea, even the instrumental outro track was great. My ears were left feeling like they'd just eaten an excellent meal.

Intressant gitarr-musik med många influenser. Får mig att tänka på The Police. Fyra

Kickin' back

a total surprise but a solid 4! It was definitely a bit weird. I loved the ambiance and hearing the geese/etc in the background. This had the feeling of a very lovingly crafted collection of music, and to boot there was some great playing. I would happily put this on again.

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.

A dreamy, experimental album that seems somehow old-fashioned and of the era and on the other hand very modern, progressive, new. There are great elements of many genres in here. Martyn's singing isn't the best (Ray LaMontange reminds me a bit of him actually), but when he uses his guitar right with all the effects, it's really great work. The album works better on the quieter tracks and needs a moment to settle in. So don't be fooled by the title track!

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

I feel like this album is what this collection is all about: an artist I've never heard of (or knowingly listened to before), with an album that sounds totally different from what I would have guessed, and contains a healthy number of really fun songs to listen to. (The B-side's initial set of love songs doesn't really do it for me, but that may also simple be because the other songs are so much more interesting, including the album's amazing finale, "Small Hours".) Although I don't think you'd ever need to read the Wikipedia entry for this album to appreciate it, it has a lot of fascinating detail on both John Martyn, the huge range of musicians that participated in the album, and also how the album was produced on an English farm (and at least some of it recorded in a courtyard with speakers playing in the middle of a pond). I can totally see why John Martyn, and this album in particular, is credited with being the ancestor of trip-hop, in all the best ways. I would have given this album a full 5 stars, if only there'd been fewer of those forgettable love songs .

trippy in that the lyrics and music seemed to trip, stumble, and fall along, but in a good way. I'd never hear of this guy nor of the album and at first blush I worried I'd be listening to whales, but the Island label usually comes through. Really enjoyed it, though could have done without the big muff song.

I was prepared to clown on this album, but after getting past the initial reaction to his nearly indecipherable singing voice, I found that it really is a beautiful album. He really mastered the echo plex and volume swells. Just a weirdly gorgeous album with a ton of feel to it.

Great album. I really love the sonics throughout. John Martyn's voice was a pleasant surprise as well. There was no weak songs at all really. Small Hours is the best song on the album. Other fav tracks: One World, Big Muff, Couldn't Love U More, Certain Surprise.

I've never heard of John Martyn before this challenge. Listening to this music, that's not surprising. This isn't exactly music for the masses but it's still has it's charm. How on earth do you categorise this album? It's experimental jazz with dub reggae influences, mixed with a heavy dose of folk music. If I'd read that description before listening to 'One World', I still wouldn't know what to expect. This album desperately needs to be listened to more than once, if only to determine whether or not you like it. And it is a slow burn. The husky vocals and overlapping echoes, add to a general feeling of being out of your element but in a calm way. Like being transplanted from a big city to a small farm and forcing yourself to be in the moment even when your mind is still racing at 100 miles an hour. The closing track leans into this even further by recording at the edge of a lake in the early hours of the morning, with geese and trains audible in the background, leading to the general feeling of being miles away from your life.

Although this album may fall short of five stars, it’s far from deserving harsh criticism. I found it forward-thinking with Martyn’s blend of folk and electronic elements that makes me think of early pioneers of electronic music such as Giorgio Moroder, and Jean-Michel Jarre. Over all this album definitely pushed boundaries for its time and place.

I have scant memories of a few songs from this album and listening to it start to finish is pretty damn cool. I know the vocals can be off putting but the lyrics aee fantastic. its funky, its soulful, its understated. Certain Surprise is probably my favorite off this album. I'd give a 4.5 if I could.

Cool album

A more psychotropic and funky take on Martyn's slightly farty folk which reminded me of Alan Parsons' sonic voyages. Love the artwork as well.

Elska þetta.

Really cool record, weird and interesting textures. I really like his voice, super unique. Not sure I’ll come back to it but definitely was interested the whole time

I immediately thought this was strange and didn't like it. And then "Couldn't Love You More" came on and I started to listen. A few listens later, I'm finding something really intriguing about "Small Hours", "One World", and "Dancing." The more I listen to this, the more excited I get. Nothing else I've been served in over 100 albums has felt like this.

This was a really surprising love. I feel like a number of bands I enjoy would count John as an influence. James Blake and Bon Iver come to mind from singing style. The guitar playing is lovely and intricate and I could listen on repeat.

The melody is very good

The algorithm gave me this album on a Saturday, and I listened to it in the pre-dawn hours while sipping warm coffee. It was a perfect chill album that explores a bunch of different genres and obviously in 1977 pointed the direction to forge new genres that would not fully be explored until the 90s and 00's. While very experimental with sonic backgrounds, the tracks are tightly focused and realized an album that is only 39 minutes in duration. My favorites were the pre-trip hop sound of "Smiling Stranger" and amazingly lush space rock opus, "Small Hours". While I also enjoyed the bossa nova of "Certain Surprise" and the dub of "Big Muff".

I liked it a lot. Not familiar with the artist or the album. Cool stuff. Eclectic for sure.

Funky, ambient and jazzy at times. I liked it

I actually just discovered this album a few weeks ago after it was recommended on a podcast that was covering the releases of 1977. I really like Martyn's voice, even if I can't understand what he's saying most of the time. From the infectious groove of "Dealer" to the dreamy finale of "Small Hours" this album grabbed me right away. "Couldn't Love You More" might be the best track on here and "Big Muff" is a lot of fun as well. This album will be on repeat for the foreseeable future.

Wow. That was an amazing album. So passionate.

One thing I love in the challenge is when an album comes along and presents something that I’m unfamiliar with. It’s even better when I’m confident I’ve never heard anything like it before. That is a big deal on a list that is dominated by primarily 60’s and 70’s albums that occupy the same 10 genres. I can best describe this as sort of like elevator music? But it’s more complex and actually engages me, which elevator music isn’t exactly meant to do. Really the closest song to match that description is the closing track, but it’s genuinely beautiful. This is aided much by the addition of these really relaxing nature sounds, like waves and seagulls. I always love when artists add stuff like that to their music. And that song matches the cover of the album perfectly. The rest of the album has a jazzy, futuristic folk sound. This is the only kind of sound that really benefits from going all out on the glossy and atmospheric folk production. The thing that took some time for me to digest was John’s voice. It is very distinct. I don’t know if I have ever heard another vocalist sound so frail and ghastly. Don’t expect any moments of vocal power that blow you away. John doesn’t even sound like he has the strength to muster up the words that are coming out of his mouth. And yet such frailty creates an inherent serenity that I really settled into. This album seems very simple, and I think it might be an acquired taste. But under everything it seems like there is really a lot going on here. Rating: 7/10

Easy listening, feel good music that made me forget all my worries for approx. 38 minutes!

Þetta er ábyggilega önnur platan með John Martyn, og ég á svolítið erfitt með að gera upp hug minn. Mér finnst tónlistin mjög flott, stundum melankólísk, stundum hress, töff hljóðheimur og alltaf nokkuð eftirminnileg. En ég er ekki að kaupa þess rödd, hugsa bara hvað þetta væri mikið betra í flutningi einhvers annars. Samt... tæpur fjarki.

I actually really loved this it sounds so emotive his voice makes you wanna weep in love

John Martin takes some adjustment to appreciate his work but overall he’s fine by me. This album rewards concentration.

A very high 4. Trippy, smooth, interesting.

chill

This album has a lot of different moods, and it's very well executed. I was a bit skeptical when I saw that it was a British album influenced by Jamaica, but it doesn't feel exploitative either. It's neat hearing Steve Winwood on an album before his solo career. The album really slows down towards the end, but in a very soothing way 4/5

This album as earnest as it is exploratory. LOTS of effects and space echo going on. Part rootsy good ol boy sincerity, part late 70's jazz fusion sprawl-out, part post-Dead hippie vibes, this album sits real nicely in some warm comfort areas while breaking new ground for the era it was released in. Not very familiar with Martyn so this was a welcome introduction.

Soothing. Liked this a lot.

A gentle and introspective mix of songs that was pleasing and not intrusive, in the background. I really vibed with a few of the songs.

Very unique. Can hear the proto pieces of many other genres. Well done start to finish.

Super trippy sounding. Really groovy, Liked alot!

pleasant

алкоальбом: сидишь на берегу, чиллишь и потягиваешь лонг айленд на рассвете

После записи переслушал, и не раз. Загадочно всё это, максимально. И хочется вернуться как-нибудь ещё, потому что есть ощущение, что до конца я так и не распробовал.

A lot better than I expected

Genre: Experimental pop, folk rock, jazz-funk, dub 1977. A Solid Listen. Standouts: Dealer, Big Muff, Certain Surprise, One World, Smiling Stranger. 4/5

So many bad reviews for this album, then check the trip-hop albums and folks tripping over themselves to praise. I'm not a trip-hop fan but this is the OG trip-hop and the things the did to achieve the sounds they did with 1977 tech that a 7th grader can now do with a 10$ program...well it set the stage. Goodness.

I own and adore Solid Air, but Martyn’s other material is unfamiliar to me. Lovely stuff, especially that closer. Should definitely invest in more of his LPs. B

Pretty fun ambient album loved the closing track. Prefer it when it’s less structured

Oooooh, this is right in the dead center, taste wise, for me. I love John Martyn, I love this late 70s, very expansive but groovy and soft stuff, long guitar solos, great playing. I really connect with John Martyn’s vocal style— that raspy, imprecise, covered vocal. So I’m already set up to love this. Compared to his other works, it feels like his songwriting is taking a bit of a backseat to the groove, the playing, and the general ambiance of the album. But “Couldn’t Love You More” is my favorite song of his, since I heard a B-side with a demo of it on there. Amazing. A little meandering, and I wish there were more punctuations of real sharpness to balance out the laid back feel. Definitely coming back to this. 4/5

It took a few listens to warm up to the album, especially his voice. But it’s a great rock album. I like his softer songs more. Small hours, love you more, certain surprise and dancing are great. I love the experimentation on smiling stranger - the strings and tabla(?). Love one world as well. The only song I don’t like is big muff - his voice sounds weird and the hook doesn’t do it for me. Overall it’s a solid album.

He has a very unique voice, which i didn't like at virst. But the more i listened to it the more i appreciated it, and how it blends in with the intrumentals. It left me feeling more calm and relaxed. The albums manages to balance folk and psychadelic rock very well. I enjoyed it

The name made me think I was going to be listening to 50s C&W, the album art made me think it was going to be prog rock. In reality I was treated with funky Mark Knopfler. Noice.

Very good!

Favorite Songs: Dealer Small Hours Very virtuous and classical John Martyn album. Jazzy, ununderstandable lyrics and amazing to lose yourself in. The final song is just amazing.

P good!

A little less moody than \"Solid Air,\" but no less emotionally provocative. \"Small Hours\" is a particular treat, guided by an ethereal atmosphere that is equal parts eerie and gorgeous.

Great album. Musically brilliant. Very eclectic

I found this to be less interesting than Solid Air but I was compelled to listen to it twice. Nice little Steve Winwood appearance too. 7/10

Out of the gate this feels like Don Henley meets Billy Gibbons. Kind of funky / warbly instrumental with some gravely vocals laden with effects. Smiling Stranger has a pretty cool vibe about it. Guitar echo effects reminiscent of Watermelon Man (Herbie Hancock) with some skittering drums and organ thrown about. I dig it. There really are not enough songs about muff these days. Skwanky guitar tone that gives it a loose / funky vibe. Small Hours is a spacious ambient jam. Kind of reminds me of Fennesz a bit. I feel like I've heard it before, but I can't imagine where. In any case, I really enjoy the song; super peaceful outro. I'm a soft 4 / 5 on this one. Definitely not an album I would go out of my way for, but there are some really high points (Small Hours, Smiling Stranger, Big Muff) and a lot of diversity to the sound for its relatively short playtime.

This album is an interesting one. A lot of variation between songs that all fit nicely together. I was a bit off put by John Martyn's voice, and overall think it detracts from the instrumentation in each song. The album really picked up with Big Muff, Couldn't Love You More, Dancing, and Small Hours. I enjoyed this album to the tune of 3.5 stars, but I think the uniqueness and flow of this entire album brings it squarely into the 4 category.

Jangly and dreamy

Rough start, and kinda dad rock-y, but very chill & upbeat. The sound of the last track surprised me given when this came out. 4.5. BT - One World - Big Muff - Couldn't Love You More - Sweet Certain Surprise - Dancing - Small Hours

Arty and intriguing, but perhaps a little aimless. Strange and groovy and trippy, almost entirely in a good way. Quite a few tunes I’d like in the right mix, with segues and contrasts that flatter, because they hold up well, but the playing excels the vocals by a considerable – and quite noticeable – distance.

zweet zertain zurprise! Favorite Tracks: Certain Surprise, Dancing, Small Hours 4/5

Hadn't heard it before, but definitely interesting!

The vibes won me over

John Martyn, yet another UK artist I've never heard of. But this time, it blew me away! What a great, beautiful album. Dense but peaceful all at once. I've heard some complaints regarding his voice, but I kind of like it. It's reminiscent of someone like Nick Drake. This would be a nice relaxing Sunday listen.

More John Martyn! Bonus! Effortlessly cool. Not as great as Solid Air though. How I miss those late nights with wine and friends.

I really enjoyed this album. I wished I'd heard of him before yesterday. This is the type of stuff I used to listen to regularly as a teen. I see he's worked with many of my favorites. My younger self would have liked the experimental vibes of this album. I'm old and cranky now so it's less interesting but still enjoyable. The main reason this isn't a 5 star is because there's no emotional connection and too dated to establish one. Great production for the time and quailty musicians. Glad to meet you John Martyn. I'll stick your card in my rolodex.

Don't care for the vocals at all but the instrumentation is excellent.

It ain't anything spectacular, but it's pleasant

4.0