Solid Air

Goooood

What a vibe. Fresh air of chill-mumble accompanied by subtle but masterful vibe-heaters. Rounded sound. Beautiful guitar playing. BPM-less. No idea what the words are, most of the time. There's some jazz in the DNA of this music. I love it.

Love this very much.

Wait, is John Martyn GOATed? This is incredible! I got totally lost in the jazzy folk sound. The playing by everybody here is just nuts. I may have to revisit his other album on the list, cause I gave that one a 3 for some reason

Excellent. Gets better with each listen

Nick Drake has been on repeat these few weeks, im so glad I got this!

An amazing soft album, with a great line of songs that don't feel out of order, perfect for just sitting down and listening while doing nothing else.

Adore this too, have for many years. Glad it's on the list

Brilliant. Something for everyone!

++: Solid Air, Over the Hill, Don't Want to Know, I'd Rather Be the Devil, Dreams by the Sea, May You Never, The Man in the Station, The Easy Blues +: Go Down Easy 9,7/10

gentle, deep, wistful and wonderful

Well, this came out of fucking nowhere. Wow it was so good. Will need a few more listens, but I immediately saved a couple songs to my high-play "Bangers" playlist and was grooving HARD to a few songs.

a jazzy blusey nick drake, solid air is a sort of folk and soul combination that feels both effortless and deeply personal. the songwriting gives an air of late-night introspection, which alongside john martyn's almost slurred vocals, feels intimate and loose in the best possible way. 4.5/5

Great album all the way through. As solid as air.

Excellent music flows across the entire LP, good for Chill-out

Great album, very chill and jazzy and cool. This is like, prime male singer-songwriter for me.

Surprise five stars. Had no idea what this would be - it was eclectic, interesting experimental…acoustic folk? It sounded much more modern than it is as well. Great chill record in the background or for a close listen. Loved it.

Never heard of John Martyn before but god damn what easy listening this was. A near perfect album

Beautiful

I had never heard of John Martyn before I listened to this album. His type of jazz infused funky folk I have alwalys either felt hot or cold on. This one from the title track onward really grabbed me however. The tamber of his voice is something else, there is an element of Nick Drake softness here but also some Frank Zappa weirdness. The guitar work throughout is spare but in that is a beuty I really enjoyed. The way it moved modes was also really satisfying to my musical brain. I think I will return to this one a lot or maybe I am just very high on it in the moment. Standout tracks to me Solid Air, I'd Rather Be the Devil and Dreams by the Sea (excellent drums in that track).

favourite new listen so far!

Absolutely beautiful

Great stuff

This was a surprise. I found this simply enjoyable and interesting. Folsy and jazzy, chill but not boring. I enjoyed how he used his vocals. 5 stars for the surprise.

A ramshacle drunk, bar Tom Waites possibly, has never sounded to diverse and brilliant as Martyn on this album. The title track is the summer definitive chill soon yet elsewhere we have pure pop sensibility and wailing like a banshee. An undisputred absolute classic.

lovely blues folk album

Solid acoustic rock

There's something so good about this that I can't quite figure out. I think this is the first time I've heard an album on here and decided I need to buy the record. There's a chilled, calming quality to the singers voice that makes it unique

John Martyn has always been musically my friend

Yes

This album is why I am doing this experiment. The vocals were awesome, the instrumentation was strong. It covered folk, blues, touches of funk. Absolutely loved this one.

nemas pojma krlo

Wow! I am surprised how much I really like album. Good stuff. The original of May You Never is way better than Clapton’s version. Ok I had to listen to it again. The first go I was doing yard work and completely focused on the lyrics and the nuances. Upon second listen WOW!!! I can’t give this album praise! Truly a case of me finding an artist when I’m ready for them.

Very good

I was thinking a lot about what to give this one, but after listening to the deluxe, I have to say this is amazing. Every song was pretty much great. It was just varied enough to not get boring and it had a LOT to offer. A bunch of different vibes and genres mixed together. I like his voice and the MIXING omg its so good. Low to mid 5 easily

Beautiful.

This is a wonderful discovery. This album transcends folk and touches on some adjacent genres to great effect. Each track varies from pretty good to great, but my favorites were "The Man in the Station" and "Dreams by the Sea."

This is a masterpiece. It is blues with a flair of jazz. Folk with a dose of psychadelia. There sre several moments throughout that made me stop everything and just listen, for example the last 3 mins of I'd Rather Be the Devil. And at only 34 minutes, there isn't a wasted moment. Other standouts here are the title track, Don't Want to Know, Dreams by the Sea, May You Never, and both Blues songs at the end. Really such an easy listen, I loved the whole album.

that’s a classic to me <33

## Review of *Solid Air* by John Martyn John Martyn's *Solid Air* (1973) is widely regarded as a landmark in British folk music, blending elements of jazz, blues, and avant-garde experimentation into a deeply emotive and timeless record. Below is an in-depth review focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with a balanced discussion of its pros and cons. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics of *Solid Air* are poetic, introspective, and emotionally profound. The title track, written for Martyn’s friend Nick Drake, encapsulates themes of empathy and emotional suffocation: “Don’t know what’s going wrong inside… living on solid air”[1][3]. While the song’s meaning is elusive, it resonates universally as a meditation on mental health and human connection. Martyn’s ability to craft lyrics that are simultaneously personal and ambiguous allows listeners to project their own experiences onto the songs. Other tracks like “May You Never” offer optimism and warmth through simple yet heartfelt lines. This song became a signature piece for Martyn and was later covered by Eric Clapton[3]. On “Don’t Want to Know,” Martyn juxtaposes love against materialism and evil with lines that remain prescient decades later: “I don’t want to know ’bout evil / Only want to know ’bout love”[1][4]. His lyrical approach often avoids overt explanations, letting the listener interpret the songs’ deeper meanings. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Solid Air* is a masterpiece of texture and tone. Martyn’s use of the Echoplex tape delay effect creates a dreamy, otherworldly soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive. Tracks like “I’d Rather Be the Devil,” his reimagining of Skip James’ “Devil Got My Woman,” showcase this experimental edge with warped distortion and hypnotic rhythms[3][4]. Danny Thompson’s double bass plays a crucial role in shaping the album’s sonic identity. His interplay with Martyn’s guitar creates a fluid foundation for the songs, blending jazz influences with folk sensibilities[2][4]. The saxophone contributions by Tony Coe add depth to tracks like “Dreams by the Sea” and the title track[2]. The album seamlessly transitions between genres—folk, blues, jazz—without losing its cohesive emotional core. Martyn’s voice is another standout feature. His husky delivery conveys vulnerability and raw emotion, whether he’s singing about love or existential despair. He uses his voice as an instrument, slurring words and humming melodies to evoke feelings beyond what the lyrics alone can express[1][4]. --- ### **Production** Recorded over just eight days in late 1972, *Solid Air* exemplifies artistic economy without sacrificing quality. The live recording approach gives the album an organic feel, capturing moments of spontaneity among the musicians. Producer John Wood ensured clarity while allowing Martyn’s experimental tendencies to shine through[3][4]. The production emphasizes timbre and texture over traditional song structures. Instruments like double bass, saxophone, guitar effects, and even moments of silence are carefully balanced to create extraordinary soundscapes[2]. Despite its complexity, the album never feels overproduced; instead, it retains an intimate atmosphere that draws listeners into its world. --- ### **Themes** The central themes of *Solid Air* revolve around love, loss, mental health, and human connection. The title track serves as an empathetic ode to Nick Drake but also speaks universally about emotional struggles[1][3]. Tracks like “May You Never” radiate hopefulness and warmth—a counterbalance to the darker moments on the album. Martyn’s exploration of love is nuanced; songs like “Don’t Want to Know” highlight his yearning for purity amidst chaos[1][4]. Even in his cover of “I’d Rather Be the Devil,” there’s an underlying tension between darkness and catharsis. These themes make *Solid Air* deeply introspective yet relatable. --- ### **Influence** *Solid Air* has had a lasting impact on British folk and beyond. It marked a turning point in Martyn’s career where he transcended traditional singer-songwriter boundaries[1]. His innovative use of guitar effects influenced countless artists in folk and rock genres. Eric Clapton’s cover of “May You Never” brought wider recognition to Martyn’s songwriting prowess[3]. The album also served as a precursor to more experimental works by artists who sought to blend folk with jazz or electronic elements. Martyn’s dedication of *Solid Air* to Nick Drake added poignancy to its legacy. Both artists struggled with personal demons but created timeless music that continues to resonate with audiences decades later[4]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Innovative Sound:** The fusion of folk, jazz, blues, and experimental techniques makes *Solid Air* stand out as a genre-defying record. 2. **Emotional Depth:** The lyrics are introspective yet universal, offering profound insights into love, loss, and mental health. 3. **Exceptional Musicianship:** Contributions from Danny Thompson (double bass), Tony Coe (saxophone), and others elevate the album’s musical complexity. 4. **Timeless Quality:** The production ensures that the album remains fresh even after decades. 5. **Cohesion:** Despite its genre-blending nature, every track feels part of a unified artistic vision. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Ambiguity:** Some listeners may find Martyn’s cryptic lyrics frustrating or difficult to interpret. 2. **Experimental Edge:** While innovative, tracks like “I’d Rather Be the Devil” may alienate those expecting traditional folk arrangements. 3. **Short Length:** At just 34 minutes long, some may wish for more material given its brilliance. 4. **Mood Variability:** The shifts between uplifting tracks (“May You Never”) and darker ones (“Solid Air”) might feel jarring for some listeners. --- ### Conclusion John Martyn’s *Solid Air* remains one of the most profound offerings in British folk music history. Its blend of lyrical depth, musical innovation, and emotional resonance ensures its place as a timeless masterpiece. While not without minor drawbacks—such as its brevity or occasional ambiguity—the album's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Ultimately, *Solid Air* is more than an album; it is an experience—a journey through love, loss, experimentation, and timeless artistry that continues to inspire musicians and touch listeners’ hearts decades after its release.

A beautifully made, well crafted and delivered experimental folk-rock album which flows perfectly from start to finish - Martyn was a superb singer-songwriter and this album showcases his talent very much. I enjoy Nick Drake's music more but this is also a 5 star album.

This was a surprise. The intimate, straight forward acoustic set was easy to listen to. Did not know John Martyn was the songwriter to 'May You Never' so dearly covered by Eric Clapton.

1972. UK. Folk rock, folk jazz, folk, psychedelia

Surprisingly amazing. Seamless listened through 2.5 times, and continuously added most of the album to my personal library. Wasn't sure what to expect, but the album was full of great folk songs each with their own kick.

Gives me vibes of Nick Drake, but with more of a bluesy tinge to it, which is a pretty damn good combo in my book. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 5. I normally harp on lyrics a bit – the lyrics on this album are pretty good, don’t get me wrong, but about halfway into this one, I kinda decided to just throw them out and let the soundscape and his vocals carry me the rest of the way. Thankfully, his voice is so clear that I got most of the lyrics anyway, but… man, this is a great sounding album, and the lyrics enhance it even further. For 1973, I’m struck by how modern this feels – obviously the mixing & the remasters help a bit, but in terms of structure & production, you could easily convince me this is an album from say, 2018, and I’d probably believe you if you gaslit me enough. I dunno, I just really liked this – I’m reminded of everything from John Mayer (acoustic wise) to U2 (some of the production & structure) to Stevie Wonder (in terms of the backing synths to add a bit of flavor), and I’m sure there’s a world of other things I could point to, but I’m a little mesmerized by how much I enjoyed this to think of them all. This does, appropriately, feel like a more upbeat version of Nick Drake’s general style, and the first track being a tribute to him makes all the more sense. Past that, though, this is the sort of stuff I wish Nick Drake did do – take the songwriting talent and ability to pull the most of them with the vocals, and blend them with more contemporary instrumentation to create something that feels a bit beyond its years. I think this type of music fits right into my sensibilities, and I think it’s absolutely worth giving a 5.

Every now and again this list turns up an album by an artist I’ve never heard of, in a genre I don’t particularly like, that is a genuinely fantastic listen. This is one such time.

Bonafide Classic and deserved of a big spliff. JM is a bit of a genius and could listen to this all day..

fav tracks- solid air, dont want to know, go down easy, dreams by the sea, the man in the station moody, passionate in the way you get walking down a long street, warm instruments in a cold tone, early synths punctuate feelings of distance, melancholy drips from the lyrics. his voice is scratchy but/and/yet soothing.

Lekkere door de akoestische gitaar gedreven muziek, het doet een beetje denken aan Jack Johnson, maar dan in de jaren zeventig met een experimentje of wat funk hier en daar. Geen idee wie die John Martyn is/was, maar ik vond het een prettige ontdekking.

Stuff like this is why I signed up for this site. Never heard of this guy before. Absolutely loving it. It's jazzy, folksy and a little weird.

I love Solid Air, John Martyn’s voice and guitar, the jazz folk feel, the upright bass. It meanders and take detours and the journey is rich and rewarding. The songs are uniformly excellent but the echoplex tour de force that is Martyn’s cover of Skip James’s “Rather Be the Devil” is breaktaking. Every time.

I have my issues with this list of albums, but I am quite delighted by the folk music it has shown me, particularly from the UK. This is no exception. Beautiful album, albeit a bit of a mixed bag, stylistically, from song to song, but still tied nicely together with immaculate vibes. Great.

Honestly I love it. I usually don't get much out of these random singer/songwriter albums but damn is this a nice listen. The opening title track is incredible with wistful jazzy bits and then each track after is just nice and simple and catchy. Really surprised by this one! 9/10

Never heard of John Martyn before. This is really enjoyable. Lots of different styles going on with this album and they all work pretty well. Glad to have heard this and I'll check out the rest of his catalog.

Best artist and album discover so far. Really really nice.

jó szóval nem tudtam erről semmit, és úgy kezdem el hallgatni hogy fogalmam se volt mit kapok. én ezt a műfajt imádom, ez az album gyönyörű és szuper kifinomult, és hallatszik, hogy a csávó abszolút képzett zeneileg. négy és felet adnék, mert vmiért the vibes are not vibing, DE akarok adni ennek egy esélyt egy chill hétvégi délutánon egy bögre teával a kanapémon, szóval megadom neki az ötöst előlegbe.

This is my Pink Moon. Best Songs: Solid Air, Dreams By The Sea, May You Never, The Man In The Station Worst Songs: NA

Lewis put me on to this guy I thank you Lewis Nearly nudged a 5 but just missed Nope just got it

Was split between 4 and 5, but just had to be 5

Loved! Will keep on rotation!

Musical dna. Beyond criticism for me. For all the talk of Eric, Jeff, Jimmy, Rory, Peter and Pete, the acoustic guys were cutting just as much edge. And in fact Page was deeply influenced by this sort of stuff. Incredibly brilliant stuff.

If I judged an album by its cover, it's say it's going to be spacey and out there. And it is. Psychedelic Folk Impressionistic ? Interesting. Performance ART style of music. Imagine it live. Would be glorious to drop into THAT room. I will be back for more.... Great new album and artist is never heard of. Feels alive and live and catchy. I assume this is regarded as a high end and very special cool local blues and roots band.

Almost too tasteful, but thick grooves here. Music for the good stuff, sex, dreaming, taking long walks etc.

Folk-rock, almost jazz at times - a masterpiece. The title track is moody and brilliant, "I'd Rather Be the Devil" (a version of the Skip James song "Devil Got My Woman") is funky and definitely "out there", while his signature song "May You Never" was later covered by Eric Clapton.

I actually found a British album I liked. Jokes aside though, this album had some very interesting experimental tracks, and the jazz influence combines oddly well with English folk.

By the second track, I said, out loud, "I like this at lot"

good. chill. never heard of before

Absolute classic

I’m a big fan. Have been enjoying his superb guitar playing for years

4.75

5 stars. I was familiar with the music but not the album. Love it, will come back!

Had never heard him!! What an incredibly great surprise of delightful music!! Loved it!

Ccooo

An elegant creation of John Martyn's artistry. While listening to the first track, I thought it was almost lifting from Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, but then it burst into a garden variety of styles (I mean, in a good way), but all with a sincere touch. I would highlight the fever acid trip that John Martyn turned I'd Rather Be The Devil into and a very beautiful, intimate composition May You Never. A highly enjoyable listen!

I had no clue what to expect. I don't know who John Martyn or ever heard if any of these songs. Played the first song; my jaw was dropped and my brain tingled after the first few seconds. This is the definition of Karl music. The vibe that was carefully created here nails an americana-road-trip feel. I'm blown away.

de 10

Too folk for me

Really interesting

Good old school rock with some bluesy notes, love the sound of the acoustic guitar. Some songs have a rhythm that reminds me of bossa nova style Nice discover

Rate

Wow, what a great find. Never heard of him before. Love the blend of soulful, R&B acoustic guitar and spacey music. Downloading this one

What a cool record in all senses of the word. I’ve never heard of John Martyn before today but this album is getting added for he rotation. Halfway between David Crosby and Bill withers with some Tim Buckley mixed in (and sounds like he may have influenced Dave Matthews and Ray Lamontagne). These songs were sfull of soul and raw emotion, even when they got spacier and jammier but somehow remained smooth throughout. His guitar playing was similar and the fingerpicking was similar. Great last name.

awesomesauce. dogshit vocals... boring ass instrumentals.. aivan mahtava albumi. folkswagen .combination of folk, jazz, blues and space rock (kolme genreä mainittu peräjälkeen) olen ainoa vintiö joka tekee hyytelöä näillä tienoilla, kutsuvat minua hyytelöukoksi, ne kutsuvat. kynnet kopsahtelevat kitarastringeihin, tekevät rytmiä heh... insane technique... melkeen meni hermo siihen.. over the hill

A truly diverse work of art. His voice I can almost do without, until it pairs with this musical journey. An all time great in this genre, I mean, pop, folk, songwriter, does not describe this.

Didn't know what to expect here but absolutely loved this. The exact folky vibe that I love and the exact kind of pyschy/jazzy/funky guitar tones that I'm into on the more upbeat tracks, super cool definitely listening many more times

Woah this one surprised me. I'm not farmiliar with John Martyn but this sort of progressive folk style is right up my alley. So many beautiful subtle moments just on the first song alone. Masterful guitar playing backed by soft keys and sax. Feels like I'm walking down a dead city street on a cool grey fall morning. The second song (Over the Hill) I knew without realizing it! This guy really captures the spirit of British folk in the 70s on this song. A lot of the other songs throughout maintain this calm but eerie ambiance with the backing instruments, makes the whole album feel extremely cohesive. Don't Want to Know ends to early for me, this could extend into some like 10 minute jam at the end and itd be heavenly. The bass on I'd rather be the devil is just wild. So many interesting sounds on this album. This one also has elements of jazz mixed in throughout. I feel there's a huge influence of Miles Davis Bitches Brew felt on a few of these songs (Dreams by the Sea being a prime example). Genuinely can't believe I've never heard this, it' like Nick Drake meets Miles Davis. It's progressive folk at its absolute peak.

I cannot believe I hadn't heard of this guy before! This album was fantastic and EXACTLY what I was hoping to get out of this whole 1001 exercise. oof, what a stellar album travelling between genres and executing them all in a fun, unique and interesting way. Gosh this was super enjoyable. It's like Nick Drake except so much more psychedelic. Absolutely blown away, REALLY enjoyed all the acoustic songs, really interesting parts I cant wait to sink my teeth into trying to decipher. Absolutely amazing. Listening to more from this artist for sure.

This is the album that derailed the whole 1001 albums experience for me. It was so good that I've been listening to it on repeat. I don't normally listen to this kind of stuff or I've never really sought it out but whatever it is, works well for my brain! It's just incredibly smooth and vibey. The melody/voicing choice for the songs is amazing. Guitar and what sounds like the double Bass on Solid Air was really nicely done. I liked the shakers for the mild percussion too. The keys are beautiful and kind of ethereal seeming. Like the sound stars would make in an animated movie kinda. Standouts: Solid Air, Over The Hill, Don't Want to Know (the keys solo was dope!), I'd Rather Be The Devil (live version has really fun drums imo and I love the gravelly-ness he throws into his voice) The vibes are immaculate, and I want more! I have a hard describing this album in terms of where I'd hear it but I'm going to keep listening to figure it out.

This is the most psychedelic folk guitar I've ever heard. The playing on this album is fantastic. And the overall mood and sound of the album is unlike anything I've heard before. I think the blues sounds towards the end of the album are slightly weaker.

This guy likes jelly. Pretty smooth. Thought it was more recent.

Manifested

bon d'accord

A genuine life-changing experience for the 15 year-old me. The same night I listened to Jackson Browne (Running on empty) Brian Eno (Another green world), smoked dope, and drank rum & coke. John Martyn has been my guitar hero ever since and I saw him live, half a dozen times - he was always amazing and each performance was individually memorable. One of the saddest stories in rock.

It's like Nick Drake fucked Van Morrison in a jazzy, bluesy atmosphere, and it's amazing. Tonally inconsistent, but still able to retain a cohesive identity of a chilled nightime, looking out on a city vibe. A real treasure to discover. 16/04/23

I honestly can’t say I had any preconceptions about John Martyn, as it’s a name that has never come up on my radar before. I’m excited to listen, as it’s always interesting to hear a highly regarded artist that I’ve never heard of. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Solid Air, Over The Hill The opening track here truly blew me away. The acoustic guitar together with his soft voice was a recipe for blissful listening and I enjoyed it a lot. This high level of music was maintained throughout the album - I generally preferred the songs with no percussion, but there were no bad songs to be found here. Overall, this feels like an artist I’m going to have to remember going forward as I was really impressed.

Loved it

Incredible accoustic guitar-focused folk rock. May you never is an all-time-favorite

Oh fuck yes this is one of the best things ever made.

I came to the John Martyn party late. It was the turn of the millennium - my life changed and my friends changed. One new friend used to spend a lot of late nights with me drinking wine and listening to John Martyn, with a bit of Cassandra Wilson thrown in. Not my usual style, but I came to love this genre-defying lyrical genius. Each song is infused with love and compassion and profound emotion. That voice just sucks you in. On the day JM died I happened to be listening to a radio show where the DJ was a massive fan. He turned over the show, the whole three hours into a dedication to his work. He didn’t really play the songs (maybe one or two per hour). What he did was to let people ring in and share their experiences of what JM meant to them. It was a masterclass in radio. There was a lot of emotion, a lot of tears but joy as well. The synchronicity worked for me, as if I hadn’t had those late nights with wine and Solid Air it would have meant nothing. Every song resonates for me and marks a turning point in my life. Fan-bloody-tastic!

Best bluesy jazzy album I've heard so far. I love the atmosphere, the acoustics, the piano work, perfect. Great album for focus and relaxing. 9/10

John Martyn led a tumultuous life and suffered from substance abuse for a good part of it. That being said, he was an extraordinary and innovative acoustic guitarist. I saw John Martyn in person could not have been more impressed by his style, technique, and ability. On Solid Air, his improvisation and collaboration with other musicians, especially the great Danny Thompson, was magical. I remember hearing Martyn play his guitar through an Echoplex for the first time - he brought a progressive influence to acoustic folk. Martyn achieved commercial success (23 albums), and when he didn't play solo, opened for many great bands and artists at one time or another, including Eric Clapton, Traffic, and Yes.

Smooooooth

Love it

love it

Who on earth is John Martyn? What is this album all about? Turns out that this album is The Tits. It's just great. Unashamedly absolutely fan-piggin-tastic. Which of course means that John Martyn is going to be a wrong'un. Of course it means that. It has to mean that. Let's do some research. Oh, yes, there it is. Alcohol and drug abuse, spousal abuse, generally being a bit of a dick to a lot of people. Hmmm. Why is it that people who are so damn good at music are always such turds? If we can divorce the art from the artist, this is 5 stars. In this case - I think I probably can.

One of my favourite albums, ever. The apogee of the British folk revival. Here, Martyn doses the waters with West Coast jazz influences resulting in a heady combination. Solid Air's smoky, blurry atmosphere proves perfect for listening after dark. Sensual, hypnotic, tender, magical. Music doesn't get much better than this.

Awesome

I like this album. Reminds me of something I would listen to while walking in nature. Some trippy tracks on here, but they were all groovy enough to be consumable in a lot of environments. Would listen to again.

Om du låter titelspåret spela i bakgrunden medan du och din dejt konverserar och tittar varandra djupt i ögonen ska du behöva göra bort dig TOTALT för att hon inte ska bli sugen. John Martyn är din ideala wingman. Se bara till att hon inte lyssnar allt för mycket på texten, då den är skriven till den deprimerade Nick Drake; det kan sabba stämningen. Men, ni vill båda ha något mer, något snabbare. Ni dricker hårdare. Och sånt. Ni vill 'Over The Hill'. Senare föreslår du en promenad på fälten utanför staden. 'Don't Want to Know' är en mörk stjärnhimmel utanför de störande ljusen. Den stjärnklara natthimlen börjar sedan pulsera och blinka i rött blått grönt gult, 'I'd Rather Be the Devil' är en psykedelisk mardröm, neurotisk och stressad. Covern av denna Skip James-låt visar att John Martyn har mer i sig än simpla bluesfolklåtar. Frukta icke, för 'Go Down Easy' är den mjuka filten som sänker sig över dig när trippen börjar lägga sig. Filten som ger dig krafter, för du ska upp igen! 'Dreams By The Sea' är igång, skaka på din kropp som en epileptiker! Svettiga efter dansen blir ni sentimentala, ni sätter er och du berättar för henne precis hur du känner. Du vet hur du ska göra, John Martyn har ju visat det för dig i 'May You Never'. Ni reser på er och vandrar vidare. Ni pratar om var ni ska just i natt, men ni båda vet att ni menar hela livet. 'The Man in the Station' spelas. Var ni hamnade? Lyssna på 'The Easy Blues' om du undrar. Dörren är låst men väggarna skakar. Vad finns mer att tillägga efter en natt som denna? Du faller ned på knä, du är numera för evigt i John Martyns grepp. Han är Gud, han är världen. Han är du, du är han.

My heart jumped when I saw this pop up as it's a favourite of mine. Heavily stylised and bound up with the whole scene back in early to middle 70s. Folky and Jazzy it's more upbeat and musically almost beyond compare. I love Nick Drake (who John wrote Solid Air for) and Roy Harper but John is not far behind in my affection. This is a solid 5.

absolutely incredible. i had never heard of this man before last night but i liked almost every song on the album. the first album that i listened to here that made me search out more of the artist’s music

This was actually a gift

How did I miss this? Incredibly good. Funky and rustic at once. Great vibe, stellar voice.

Never heard of this guy before, it's nice

A very classy album that sounds complete. There's nothing missing here. Even the sparseness of the music doesn't sound awkward. There's space for the songs to breathe. I'm never sure if Solid Air is a summer or autumn record. Either way, it carries you through with a very warm feeling throughout. The bass sounds lovely through the analogue production. Martyn's voice could break down and cry at any moment. He just runs with the full spectre of emotions from the downbeat title track, and then straight into Over the Hill. May You Never is the complete F-IT song. Superb.

One of the most influential musicians in my life, and this album was arguably his finest hour. I was obscenely young when I discovered John Martyn’s music on a clip show about Scotland’s* greatest musicians, which lead me down a rabbit hole of Martyn’s resplendent, ornate, trippy, psychedelic brand of songwriting. A live performance of the title track taken from his now iconic show at Rockpalast in Germany circa 1975 had me utterly transfixed. For someone who’s whole act was at that time incredibly barebones, he had a stage presence matched by few. How does the album version hold up? Actually not especially well. And this is a recurrent theme for the whole record. The extremely jazz infused production of these tracks detracts somewhat from Martyn’s talents rather than accentuating them. As a stripped back performer, the songs are imbued with maximum emotion. Here, the cocktail bar organ are a little too on-the-nose and indulgent. Tracks like “Don’t Want To Know” have a similarly sparse opening only to retreat into the smoky environs of mid-70s jazz clubs. “Over the Hill” and “May You Never” (a track which should be a singalong household staple across this island) are more conventionally folky and ground the album’s expansive soundscape in Martyn’s songwriter roots. Whether or not the array of sonic snapshots works for you as an album will depend on how much you focus on the actual songwriting on offer here - and on this front Solid Air is an utter triumph. Martyn’s polarising slurred vocal style presents another obstacle to negotiate. For me, it’s fitting that this album stand as an homage to Martyn’s late friend Nick Drake. Because not many besides the latter are capable of forcibly wringing every ounce of emotion out of each vocal line. Given the luxury of half stars, I’d give this a 4 1/2 rating, but a musician as influential as John Martyn deserves better than that.

Fajny blusik

I like this. A lot. As I was listening, I kept saying to myself "Self, says I, this cat sounds like a slightly more rocking Nick Drake". Come to find out from the Apple Music album notes that the two were buddies, and that the first track was written for Nick. After I patted myself on the back for my musical acumen, I listened to the album again (for the record, I did not do this with Napalm Death). I have a thing for music that makes me feel like I'm watching a late-night talk show in the 80s - you know, some family members are visiting, you're sleeping on the couch, and all of a sudden there's a whole world of post-10pm culture that opens up. Like my favorite photographs, I don't know exactly how to define it, but I know it when I see (hear) it. The songs "Carriage" by the Counting Crows, most early John Mayer, but "Clarity" in particular, "Circles" by Post Malone, "Magic" by Coldplay, "#41" by DMB...you get the idea. They should preferably have horns (you can just imagine Paul Shaffer and the Late Night orchestra stepping in), be restrained and sound like driving late at night. But it's also got some latent energy to it - like you know these dudes could bust out and rock if they wanted to, but it's 11:43pm on a Wednesday, they're hanging with Letterman, and just want to ride the vibe of night in NYC. That's what most of this album sounds like to me - the jam busts through from time to time, but mostly it's late, I'm on the couch, and all is right with the world...

I own this album - one of my top favourite musicians ever.

In love, just wow. Bathing in that thick solid air

5/3 groove

Really found this Blum layered smoothly like a bob ross painting. It was expediently crafted by someone who knows their craft. Could listen to it again and again

4.5/5. Very interesting ideas for the time on a lot of these songs, and good variety

Absolutely incredible, I think I'm going to be revisiting this a lot. It hooked me from the beginning and just kept going and going and going.

This album was never getting anything other than a 5. It's been a mainstay in my life since I was a child. John Martyn is one of the greatest to ever do it.

Loved this, reminds me of lots of happy times

For me it is the definitive John Martyn album.

But I can tell you it’s hard to hide When you’re living on solid air

It’s some good Brit pop. And has “there she goes” on it.

Dig this - Don't want to know

291121 10:37 4.5

Yndisleg plata

Top Picks: Solid Air and I Don't Wanna Know. Love love love this album! one of my all time favourites. First 5 stars I've given

Loved it.

Really good!

Bought it!

Avantgarde folky pop album by weirdo John Martyn. It takes some getting used to, but rewards you in a great way for your efforts. I like the album cover too.

Cantautor setentero, del rollo de Nick Drake. Sin dejar de lado el folk acostumbrado, sustenta las canciones en su guitarra y en su magnífica voz, destacando también el uso mágico del teclado que hace así como el free jazz en que derivan muchos temas. Magnífico descubrimiento.

Geweldig yeah

'May You Never‘ hatte ich im Frühjahr (2021) gehört, weil im 1001albums-subreddit darauf verwiesen wurde, mich dann aber nicht mit Martyn beschäftigt, den ich vorher nicht kannte. Freund von Nick Drake, eine gewisse musikalische Ähnlichkeit ist unverkennbar und deshalb gefällt mir das wohl auch so gut (btw: ich hoffe, Drake ist in dieser Liste). Dieses Album ist großartig, Perlen wie diese sind der Grund, dass ich dieser Liste weiterhin folge. "it's a classic with not a note out of place" sagt BBC Music und trifft damit den Nagel auf den Kopf.

Profundo e com forte potencial terapêutico. Super original e diferente de tudo o que já ouvi. Ainda sim, com sons familiares e que me agradaram logo de cara. Ouvir mais e mais vezes

Álbum incrível. Já virou um clássico para mim. Acompanhar as letras transforma a experiência. Destaque: Solid Air, Don't Wanna Know e May You Never

This is a rather unique record that went places that I was not expecting a folk record of this time to go. The album doesn't start strong and I thought I was going to have a tough time when John Martyn's mumbled singing kicked in on the title track. While his voice never becomes one that I can fully get behind, the instrumentation here is so unique and interesting that I can ignore my issues with his singing. Martyn experiments with blues and jazz in a way that gives this album tons of atmosphere and texture. His take on the delta blues standard "I'd Rather Be The Devil" starts off as busy and eventually quiets down. The song has a fuzzy electric guitar part bubbling underneath the surface and gives the rendition a spacey feel once the song gets stripped back. "May You Never" and "Go Down Easy" are more straightforward folk ballads, but they are still solid (if you would forgive the pun!). This is a great record that feels ahead of its time. You just need to be able to get used to that voice.

very very very good

I’ve heard some of these before! I like the vibe.

For an artist I’ve never heard of I was very pleasantly surprised.

Never heard of this guy or this album before, but I found the album pretty calming and pleasant. Nothing particularly exciting, but the vocals were solid.

Oké ik zag dat deze plaat uit ‘70 komt, dus ik dacht daar gaan we weer… weer een WMvMLplaat. Dat is deze plaat toch een welkome verrassing. Het is een heerlijk mellow smooth jazzy plaatje. Zijn stem tja… het doet mij te veel denken aan Jeroen van Koningsbrugge als hij aan het improviseren is en dan moet doen alsof hij de tekst kent. Ik merk dat ik dat dan wel weer irritant vind. Er zit wel veel feel verschil in de nummers, wat ik overigens niet irritant vind. De bass 70 disco sound die hierin zit, althans dat denk ik, vind ik magistraal.

John Martyn zet een mooie sfeer neer, ben erg gecharmeerd van de gitaarsound, lekker veel akoestisch wat vaak smaakvol wordt omlijst door mooie elektrische gitaren maar ook prachtige Rhodes, wat het erg dromerig maakt. Ik moest er even inkomen maar ben toch wel fan.

I like the Nick Drake-y-ness and how the opening/title track is dedicated to Nick Drake

4 - great album

80

Took a couple listens, but this grew on me, especially in context of Nick Drake and Tim Buckley and thinking of them all kind of speaking to one another.

John Martyn had somehow made his way into my spotify rotation - I have no idea how but I'm pleased he did. This album is a really good listen - no problems enjoying any of the tracks and a few a properly good.

Fair play

I really enjoyed this album. it has a really nice slow vibe.

Great lawnmowin' music. Not a bad song on here. Flows very well from start to finish. Not really a big folk guy but this goes a bit beyond that, there's just something so genuine and unique here.

I like this more than the other John Martyn album on the list, although I still am not sold on his singing style. I really liked "I'd Rather Be the Devil". I think this creeps into a four for me.

Wow this was cool. Sick guitar lovely jazzy feel and saxophone - horrible mixing in some party and vocals aren't great.

Best Track - "May You Never"

Mostly good I found, a little too much noddling. John Martyn does sound a lot like Josh Home on this which is agreeable 4*

Very interesting, too interesting for a 3, but not captivating enough for a 5

I've never heard of Martyn, and I liked this album. For an album released in 1973, this sounds really contemporary. Nice!

I was a little high for the first time in like four years listening to this, which might be the most ideal way to listen to this album? It’s so moody, so ethereal and atmospheric. I came back to it later in the day to listen to it like a normal person, and fully expected to like it less. I think non-high me DOES see a bit more of its flaws, but I also see it’s pretty damn good. I don’t love every song, but I’d say there’s 3-4 songs on here that are just achingly beautiful.

Seeing I was about to embark on a folk.album i rolled my eyes and thought "here we go again" as I poised myself ready for the 1 star button. Needless to say, it didn't go as planned.

Have always enjoyed this album, especially Over the Hill. Just a beautiful song. Martyn has got a pretty expansive discography, something for everybody kinda thing, but I think Solid Air is his best.

There are times when John sounds like a weird drunk lunatic.  I think it's how he ties his words together to create a smooth fluidity.  Which can undulate with the rhythm.  Legato, I think, would be the technical term possibly?  It works as much as it doesn't and that ultimately is praise as the technical skills on offer here are exceptional, so when they collide it's pretty epic.  A bit like Led Zep who creates a haunting sound with guitar and voice, I think John does the same as he taps, buzzes and twangs.  Don't think I have heard a classic guitar played with such depth, and the isolation on the production allows the talent to showcase literally any way John desires to create an effect.  The sound of the string being struck, the tap or echo is all there to absorb in brilliant isolation. I clearly love this and enjoy the "exhibit" but like many albums could he not have rationalised it a little and songs like "Go Down Easy" are just terrible in comparison.  I guess its praise that a reasonable song annoys me amongst a masterclass.  This is as much different as it is special and not without its flaws.

John Martyn’s Solid Air is a masterclass in atmospheric fusion, anchored by a title track where the interplay of "beautiful" upright bass and fluid piano creates an immersive, "ultimate" sonic experience that complements Martyn’s distinctive vocals perfectly. While the album occasionally wanders into polarizing territory—notably the "weird" and seemingly redundant inclusions of "I’d Rather Be the Devil," which feels like a jarring experiment—it consistently finds its stride in the lush, folksy textures of "Don’t Want to Know" and the deep, resonant grooves of "Go Down Easy." Martyn’s vocal delivery is a focal point of the record, ranging from the hypnotic, sleep-talking intimacy of "The Man in the Station" to the vibey, jazzy smoothness of "Dreams by the Sea," though the latter’s musical "vibe" is so strong it almost warrants an instrumental-only cut. Even when the record plays it safe with "decent" folk-rock like "Over the Hill" or the "okay" but standard "May You Never," the sophisticated arrangements and subtle percussion ensure a high floor. The album closes on a somewhat disjointed note with "The Easy Blues," which stands out as arguably the most unique and blues-heavy track on the disc, yet its placement feels slightly out of step with the ethereal folk-jazz established elsewhere. Despite these minor pacing hiccups and a few experimental misfires, the record remains a compelling, highly textured journey through 1970s British folk.

d yonca hetmer mal the man in the station gschickt und das isch megaa schön omg eifach en friend vom nick drake!! solid air isch komisch aber find d atmosphäre reecht cool au nach paar songs find ichs e megaa spannendi atmosphäre und au wenn wenig hangebliebt, isches huuere cool, wie die lieder innenandflüsset ok jz ghöri au de blues ihfluss, wowiiie iwie findi es tönt eürkli au chli wie de nick drake, abgaeh vode stimm, aber vlt ischs au chli placebo es album woni sicher wiedermal wird lose!

insane, chill, magical and mystical needs some revisits but this MIGHT be perfect

I remember that the last John Martyn album we had (One World) took me a couple listens to get into, so was prepared for the same here. But instead totally sold on it from the start. The jazz, country and blues touches to the folk, the strong songwriting. A beautiful accompaniment, and tribute, to Nick Drake.

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

Could well be one which grows on me. I felt I didn't fully appreciate its depth and charm in one listen which is usually a good sign. 'Over The Hill' stood out

7.5/10

I liked it just fine when I was listening to it... but it's not really something that's in my wheelhouse enough to revisit or to dig any deeper than a single listen. It's "fine".

js incase i fall asleep b4 this is finished. i will keep listnin from where i left off, so ive heard the whole album. but ill tell u what i tjink so far - very nice. nice voice, nicr music.

Not my favorite style of music, but well done.

I really like this, music to sit in the sun to and gently nod off. Lovely.

A very smooth album in the Nick Drake albumatic universe, I enjoyed it

4/5

7/10

This is actually pretty cool. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into with this one. Ive never heard of this guy before but after the first few songs I couldnt place when it came out. It felt like anywhere between today and when recording tech was at an acceptable point. I had to look it up and see that this was the early 70s. Kinda crazy. The first thing that jumped out to me ,cause im me after all, was the standup bass. That sound is up there as one of my favorite. Its just so smooth and creamy. And when you have a good player like on this it just takes over. Another thing I was into wad the synths or keys. They should have been my clue as to when this came out but I missed it. They also are very good. I know.less about them but I know whne they sound good. Anf then the singing itself was also good. Im even less knowledgeable about that but it works and it might even say some stuff. Not a lyrics guy but he knows how to put together a song. Solid air the title track is a great start. Then i was also into dont want to know. And i had a few others later down the line I also saved for later. Its just a really good record that has this timeless quality to it. I was reading afterword that his jazzy influence kinda dies out later but im down to listen to anything early on in this guy's career. And this is a great jumping off point

Really really loved this. Giving it a 4 only because its SO Nick Drake adjacent (and Nick Drake does Nick Drake better) but excited to add this one to the rotation.

Yeah this was funky, I liked it

Całkiem fajne

Cool, would listen again. 3.5 leaning towards 4 this time.

Dit is best een relaxed album. De jazzy contrabas doet het goed in combinatie met de bluesy gitaar. De zanger is zelden tot niet irritant en dan is dit soort muziek al gauw heel erg prima. Een lekker album om tijdens het werk aan te hebben staan. Ik weet niet hoe vaak ik dit zelf nog actief ga opzoeken, maar je kunt ze absoluut een stuk slechter treffen in deze lijst. Een lichte 4, wat aansluit bij wat ik bij dat andere album van hem al had bedacht.

I think what I find most remarkable about an album and an artist like this is how I've never heard of either. Could not believe it was from 1973, either. What's weirder still is that music from that era would have fingerprints or DNA from his influences all over it, easily visible. Not so. No songs I've ever heard of, no covers to say who influenced him, and no backing musicians that show his connections in the music world. Overall, a pleasant surprise and a very satisfying album. Will definitely explore John Martyn more.

Pretty good music to listen to, although it is definitely background music and I can't really listen to it in depth. Very nice and relaxing to listen to.

I really struggled with what to give this album. I think I'm going with a 4. After the first song I was like wow this is getting a 1 but then the second song hit and the one after and I was like wow this guy can actually sing he just chose not to on the first song. This cycle kinda repeated a couple times. On the tracks where John mumble, slurs his way through the lyrics it's not great, kinda painful. On the ones where he actually sings it's quite lovely. The instruments sound really nice and I absolutely loved that aspect of this album. That's kinda the only reason this album is getting a 4 is because of that.

First track is dedicated to Nick drake The slurred vocals are apparently a style? Cool eclectic influences, love the jazziness Learned also one of his later albums, which is also on this list, is patient zero for triphop which is awesome

Very cool! Some jazzy elements and some folk sounds, very interesting. Stand-outs - Solid Air - The Man In The Station

I cannot believe I have never listened to this before. Very good relaxing music and the songs are fun to relax to. 7.5/10 Top song Over the hill

Actually liked this one, quite an easy listen even though it’s a bit too much on the vocals sometimes. Specific rating - 4.2 Fav song- Don’t want to know Least fav- I’d rather be the devil

My dad claims this is the second best album (after the first Led Zeppelin album) not sure I'd go that far but I do love his voice. Sometimes too jazzy for me but that's balanced out by how much I love some of the other songs. Favourite song: May You Never Least: Solid Air

Didn’t think I was going to like it as much as I did

The instrumentals are this pleasant mishmash of acoustic guitar and kind of jazzy pianos and bass. The vocals range from folky to a kind of white bluesy performance and it's... fine. Altogether it's not bad, but it didn't capture my attention while listening. It's kind of a perfect album to play as background during lunch hour. So a strong 3 as foreground listening, easy 5 as background, I'll chalk it up as a 4.

Shocked at how much I like this? Felt like a mix of vedder with folksy beck, and a touch of Bowie and the doors? Short of 5 stars because of martyn's proclivity to mumble his lyrics but still good nonetheless

Really solid! John Martyn really blends a lot of different influences well. The double bass work in particular is super nice. My main criticism would probably be that a lot of songs have too much singing. It would definitely be better if there was more time for the instrumentation to breathe. Also, I was promised a didgeridoo but didn’t get it. Overall, it’s a really mellow and psychedelic album that flows really nicely. Definitely more effective than most folk albums that want to go beyond just acoustic or slide guitar

Can’t explain it but the spelling of Martyn makes a lot of sense for this music

A pleasant surprise. I score it FFF: Fun, Folky, Funky-ish.

7/10

Solid 4

Wow. Never heard nor heard of and haven’t even heard anything quite like it. Predominately what I guess you could call “guitar jazz” but with a lot of other elements and unique vocal style. Interesting discovery, thank you, 1001.

Appropriately enough, this is a really solid album, deftly combining folk, blues and jazzy elements, especially on the title track. It’s a very moody and atmospheric album much of the time, but with some moments of levity as well. As a fan of late-60s/early-70s British folkies (some of whom play on this album), this is a personal favourite of mine, and I rate every song here highly (‘May You Never’ is a gem), but it’s just lacking that something extra to tip it into 5-star territory. But for me this is at the very upper end of 4 stars.

The guitar is great. The whole thing is soft, kind of a round sound, very pleasant to the ear. Oh wow, so many instruments, altogether very peaceful. Some songs were a bit messier, but overall very nice album!

Really good vibes. Love the instrumentals

Not bad. Folksy

Listening in the car as I drove down Donovan Lane towards the start seemed appropriate to me. Another singer songwriter, here we go. But then the album evolved and changed with a bit with more experimental jazz, blues and rock and more normal folk stuff. Great stuff altogether, 4 out of 5 stars.

> the Beatles Great vibes

Bijna 5

This is great. Surprised this was 1973

Nicely done

Quick review since I'm at work: this is very good. Good folk-inspired pop while also pulling from psychedelic rock, prog, and even a little proto-David Byrne in the vocals. Many songs went in different directions than I was expecting, and the vocals were nice and the lyrics were interesting. Will definitely listen to this again. Favorite tracks were "Over The Hill" and "I'd Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman)".

Ok, prvi komad, "Solid Air", mi je kinda všeč? Nism čist odločena še, mal je mumbly (a je pred mumble rapom obstajal mumble folk?). Ne, ok, všeč mi je. Ful smooth, zastopim, zakaj piše, da je mal jazz incorporated v album. "I'd Rather Be the Devil" je ful zanimiv. Kr mal psihadeličen, predvsem pa eksperimentalen. U, "Dreams By The Sea" isto, kr mal funky. "May You Never" je ful catchy. "The Easy Blues" je pa kinda bluesovski, as the name would suggest. Ej, kul. Zmer je fajn odkrit še kakšnega singer songwriterja na novo.

Enjoyable.

Wow! I really liked it, another gem on this list in patch that was honestly giving me list fatigue.

Solid album, I could see myself coming back to this.

This generator has recently been giving me a lot of good albums from the late sixties and early seventies. “Solid Air” is a solid album. Nice listen.

Loved it a lot

Fantastic album! Loved the mix between keyboard and piano. Great performance on the guitar and great lyrics/ singing. Adding this one to the library

Interesting blend of jazzy folk. It had some highs and lows but enjoyed it overall. Tellingly, the added live bonus track blew the original out of the water leaving me wanting more from the original album.

This was a real gem. Its not surprising that John Martyn was friends with Nick Drake - the sound is evocative of his sound and style. I've been finding several later 60s/early 70s folk-rock albums that I previously overlooked or passed up, but really dig, through this project. This is one of those albums.

This is a fantastic, creative, smooth example of '70s singer-songwriter fare that holds up particularly well. It's like James Taylor but bluesy and more interesting, reminds me a lot of Jorma Kaukonen Quah. It's this kind of deep cut material that makes the OAD project so rewarding. The recording is also very good, though I wouldn't call it great. This album is completely chill but layered and textured enough to remain consistently interesting. My only complaint, and it is a small one, is that Martyn sometimes deliberately mumbles or slurs his words. I'm assuming this was an artistic choice. It makes more sense on the title track, as it fits the song's mood, which I understand was dedicated to Nick Drake, who died only a year and a half later. It's a bold choice to open a singer-songwriter album where lyrics are often the centerpiece of the music. The only time when I'm really disappointed is on the song "The Man in the Station." I really like the lyrics that I can understand, and I love the vocal reading. Better enunciation would have helped me to appreciate this track more; as is, it's a bit of a tease. Regardless of my minor complaints about the mumbled lyrics. I enjoyed at least three spins of this album, and I even listened to it again this morning. Four stars.

Really good

An enjoyable sort of melancholy

This is #day537 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I didn't realize I had this guy's other album back on #day241. I just checked my review of that one, and it seems I wasn't in the mood for this kind of music at the time. I gave it a 2 and couldn't even finish it. (For the record, I revisited it after Solid Air: still not a huge fan, but at least I made it this time.) That said, halfway through the first song on Solid Air, I was already enjoying what I was hearing. I'm not always sold on the vocals, but musically, I'm very much on board: a weird, jazzy, psychedelic folk-rock odyssey. "Solid Air," "I'd Rather Be the Devil," and "Dreams by the Sea" are definite standouts for me. I guess I'll go a bit wild and give this one a 4. Looking forward to #day538.

Very fun easy-listening jazz/folk album that does a nice job with delicate melodies. Gets a little too "muzak-y" especially on the B side for my taste, but still worth a listen. Top tracks: Solid Air, Over The Hill, Don't Want To Know

The combination of folk and blues reminds me of Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks,” but this is more smoky and more bluesy. Loved “Don’t Want to Know” (about evil) which was a sentiment cleverly contradicted by the following song “I’d Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman).” “May You Never” is another favorite track. When the mood is right, this is near-perfect background music…which sounds like a criticism but is in no way intended as such. It can add brilliance to the background of a boring day. Strong 4/5 and maybe deserves a 5/5…

More an atonal version of Nick Drake. Not a bad thing, but a different blend of a great musical drink. While the tracks are not distinctive enough on first listen, I could easily get used to this as background music.

Very chill

7/10 – Good

Positively surprised. I really liked the jazz elements.

Genre: Folk (Singer/Songwriter) This was a very pleasant surprise. An album with a whole lot going on than your average early-70s folk album. Elements of blues, jazz, and I'd even say a little bit of prog, intermingle with solid folk stylings. A very enjoyable listen, and probably one I will look to revisit soon. A lot more rockin' than I was expecting, and for that, I thank it! Good singing, and some fun songwriting. 4/5

Me fait penser à du Nick Drake, mais en plus éclaté/varié. Très bon album à première vue. 4/5

i was thinking that this reminded me of nick drake only to find out they were good friends and the title track was dedicated to drake. this had a lot of variety which kept it feeling fresh for the short runtime.

Warm, blurry, avant garde British folk, swerving from lyrical and trad to experimental jazz strangeness. It has this feel. As much as I would like to say the arty tracks win me over, I like the most straight ahead songs, like Over the Hill, best. Still, pretty great.

Never heard of it but really kind of loved it. “Don’t Want to Know” was my favorite. The sound is folky and grungy, and his voice can turn on a dime.

Thoroughly enjoyed Solid Air, perfect Sunday morning listening

Just a really great slice of psychedelic folk-rock. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was a fantastic introduction to John Martyn. I wasn’t very familiar with his work before this, but I’m definitely sold now.

One moment it’s folk next it’s jazz then it’s acoustic blues. This is a fine record that I never heard all the way through. Almost lost me on that first track but Over the Hill really caught my ear and I was captive for the rest of the record.

This was a good folk record. Better then i was expecting.

Mix of folk and jazz that I liked a lot more than I thought I would.

I have never heard of him, and this was my first introduction to John Martyn. These songs are haunting, mesmerising, delicate, complex and considered … go down easy is masterful …. I was very sad to read he struggled with addiction and violence throughout his life, there is a gentle but somewhat sorrowful beauty in this album.

Echt een heel interressant album. Vooral wanneer de saxofoon een hoofdrol speelt. DE jazz invloeden voegen echt veel toe, normaal vind ik singer-songwriter een beetje saai:( Favoriete nummers: OVer the Hill, Dreams by the Sea, the man in the station. Minst favoriete nummers: i'd rather be the devil, The easy blues

The album opened with a rambling, mumbling song that didn't seem to be going anywhere. As the album progressed I was surprised by the different genres touched on and the way that the album felt like a cohesive whole. Having said that the album is a mixed bag. It is folksy and jazzy. I suspect that I'll persevere with this one

My fav song from the Album is "Over the Hill". I actually enjoyed this listen a lot and added many of the songs to my Playlists. Love the guitar and the lyrics.

Decent 4

Solid album

This was pretty good. Never heard it before, but it's something that if we DID hear it back in the day, we'd have played it at some of our gatherings. Saved over the Hill to my favorites, mostly so I remember to come back to this record, and check out more of his music.

Super groovy blues!

Soulful, relaxing, groovy, and an ideal length.

This one felt more like a comfort album than something you'd expect to see on an all-time list, but I don't mean that in a negative way. More like it's something you want to play on a few random afternoons through the year rather than every chance you get. It had an overarching feel that made me like it even if I didn't love every part of it. I think it's worst track was no. 1, the title track, and it only got better from there. The best thing about it was that it kept things interesting. While there was plenty of acoustic-guitar-and-vocals consistent with the typical folk sound, some it came off more indie-rock than I expected. Plus other songs delved into more bluesy vibes and even a bit harder rock. I'd Rather Be the Devil was unexpected, but something I liked quite a bit. Whenever it seemed like I could tune out, it went somewhere that brought my attention right back to it. I'm not sure exactly why, but I enjoyed the album. While I wouldn't say it's something that stands out as great, it is something I could see myself listening to again on occasion. I think I'd like it just as much each time. That makes it pretty good to me. Overall: 3.6/5

good chill music

really cool sounding album - will come back to this

My first thought after putting this on was that it felt like a predecessor to Nick Drake, but I realize now after fact checking that this album actually comes after some of Drake's albums. Nevertheless, they give me the same feeling: Mellow and dark vibes with acoustic guitar playing. The vocals in 'Dreams By The Sea' sounds quite Drake-like as well. It didn't leave such a lasting impression after finishing it, except that it was quite nice. But now that I skim through it again I realize that most songs are actually really good - though potentially a bit same sounding. But for me this holds a high level throughout the record, with some standout songs like 'Solid Air', 'Over The Hill'. Might be feeling generous because it's Christmas, but going to give this a weak 4 star.

Smooth jazzy bluesy feel, interesting vocals, pretty darn good if I say so myself.

Despite being as unintelligible as the Swedish Chef, this is a pretty groovy and chill album that I quite liked.

I liked this artist more than Nick Drake and owned probably 7-10 of his albums. This was my favorite. Thought it might be a 5, but it doesn’t quite get there.

𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥 𝘈𝘪𝘳 blends folk warmth with a soft, drifting atmosphere that at times feels close to Nick Drake’s quiet introspection. Martyn’s voice glides between gentle murmurs and soulful phrasing, while the arrangements stay understated, built on fluid guitar work and relaxed, jazz-tinged textures. The album moves with an effortless calm, yet there’s an emotional weight beneath the surface that gives the songs depth without ever forcing it. It’s subtle, immersive and beautifully crafted — a record that settles in slowly but stays with you.

Very relaxing

I quite liked this album. Very easy listening.

This is a great album. Favourite track is Dreams By The Sea. 4/5

7/10

I had never heard of John Martyn but I like him a lot! It's very 60s/70s singer-songwriter vibes.

This guy really needs to hire somebody better to sing his pieces. The instrumentation is excellent. Those saxes, vibraphones, soft bass plucking, and drumming in the opener/title track are atmospheric as heck. But then Martyn's mumbling comes in and you wish you forgot to bring your ears to work. (Not really. But you get my point.) Over The Hill is a big improvement, though I can't quite say what's changed. At least, not singing-wise. (Turns out the higher notes were helping. Later in the album, Go Down Easy also has noticeably better singing, but mostly with Martyn's higher notes.) The guitar part sounds great. It's well-mixed and sparkles with The Battle Of Evermore. May You Never very much follows in the same footsteps, boasting perhaps the most "coverable" songwriting of the whole album. A very accessible track, and the guitar playing is still very good. In Don't Want To Know, Martyn returns to his suspiciously slurred vocal delivery, though it's somewhat covered up by having group singing towards the song's end. All in all, a solid, groovy track, helped a lot by its keyboard part. I'd Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman) is bizarre. It maintains a specific level of tension that doesn't ever get off the ground. Which illustrates my issue with a lot of Martyn's music, actually. The arrangements are really creative for their time. With this song specifically, I don't even recognise some instruments here, but the soft organ, wacky guitar/bass noises, and mysterious, exotic rhythm (and, at times, lack thereof). It reminds me of sound-prog not too distant from some of King Crimson's stuff (Moonchild?). Dreams By The Sea is another standout. That high keyboard line in the chorus is great, and it leads into an intensely classic-rock instrument in the middle of the track, with a strong, groovy sax solo. And more falsetto, too. Not exactly the easiest melody to follow, but it's still solid. And considerably more movement than the rest of the tracks. 4/5 Key tracks: Over The Hill, Dreams By The Sea, May You Never

There’s times when the superbly played percussion guitar is complimented by Martyn’s lyrics, like in Man in the Sttion; nevertheless, there are times when I would prefer an instrumental track rather than vocals. Overall enjoyed and I appreciate the instrumentals.

I liked most of this. I had never heard of him, I'm glad I got to hear this.

This dude warbles but he warbles with passion and makes it work. He has a very unique voice, he growls at times & warbles some more. He makes a funky sound that I loved. And excellent blues numbers he warbles passionately about. All kidding aside, I'm giving this a 4. I enjoyed it. Some of the songs kinda blended together. Solid Air was probably the worst song on here but that only because it's a tad bit too long. Good song otherwise. I like his sound funky folksy blues. Warbles!

They were some smooth tunes.

A bit of a mixed bag, but when it's good it's very good indeed. I definitely preferred the more folk-y end of this, where he's clearly in thrall to Nick Drake. In fact, it turns out they were good pals, and the title track is written for and about Nick, so good on you John. It took me two listens to decide, but this is definitely a good album.

3rd day in a row of artists I'd never heard of, so my expectations were low. However, this is a quite lovely, and varied, collection of songs. I've no idea how he evaded my attention after releasing 23 albums!

This was a nice surprise. I like the interesting mix of folk with jazz and a little psychedelia. It's very unique and well executed. Liked Songs Added: Over The Hill The Easy Blues

I’m reasonably sure I’ve neither heard of John Martyn, nor listened to him before. I like it. The sound is compelling. The atmosphere is slightly darker in an inviting way. I’ve always enjoyed I’d Rather be the Devil and this is a cool version. The other songs are good. His voice doesn’t quite carry you for the entire time, but the album is really good.

Interesting artist and album. Folk that takes you through jazz and psychedelic doors at times. A dense expression of Martyn’s mind. I was in and out while listening and at times it got too self-righteous and hip but overall an interesting experience I will come back to.

As an album it was a bit disparate--lots of stuff going on here. I generally enjoyed most songs, though, and the variety was impressive. 3.7

Listened Before? N This was a really good folk album. I enjoyed it quite a bit with some of the darker themes running through some of the songs not typical of the genre. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Over The Hill

This was a cool, light jazz album

Folk-jazz is hard to pull off, since the two genres are antipodal to a degree, but John Martyn does it as well as anyone this side of Nick Drake and Tim Buckley, not to mention Nina Simone. There's no doubt that this is soulful and beautiful music, but it's also a slow-down-get-your-groove-on-thing, a trip into the strange and mythically reposed: 'I'd Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman),' 'Go Down Easy' (Hejira-like), 'Dreams By The Sea.' As the record goes on, it doesn't exactly convince you that it boasts a single great track, tho 'Over The Hill' and 'May You Never' come pretty close, but it has so much variety, virtuosity, and believable vibrancy that you can both admire it from afar and devour its emotive riches. Just not a go-to album.

The first track would have been better as an instrumental, and did not make me look forward to the rest of the album. Everything after was a pleasant surprise

Listened to on a dark and rainy commute. So good

The title track is a blend of acoustic guitar and vibraphone (I looked it up), with sax adding texture. The backing music is relaxing, punctuated by the plucked guitar. The overall effect is jazzy, but it's more than that. Over The Hill ups the tempo and complexity but is folkier. I like Don't Want To Know even more, which lays down a proper groove in the second half while keeping the ambient atmosphere. The next track ends side 1 on a lengthy detour into darker, more experimental sounds. Side 2 is the same quality. Dreams By The Sea stands out as well as The Man In The Station, which brings everything together again with a space rock kind of sound. I could live without the bluesy two-part closer, but this is thoughtful stuff.

Solid Air wurde Anfang 1973 veröffentlicht und größtenteils in den Sound Techniques Studios in London sowie bei Island (London) aufgenommen. Der britische Sänger, Gitarrist und Songwriter John Martyn verbindet auf dem Album Folk, Jazz und Blues zu einem atmosphärischen, organischen Klangbild. Charakteristisch sind warme Akustikgitarren, zeitweise verzerrte E-Gitarren-Texturen und der gezielte Einsatz des Echoplex-Effekts, der dem Sound Tiefe verleiht. Bekannte Stücke sind der Titeltrack „Solid Air“, „May You Never“ und „Over the Hill“. Die Begleitung durch Bassist Danny Thompson und Gäste aus der britischen Folk-Szene ergänzt Martyns Spiel sensibel; die Arrangement-Linie zwischen lockerem Jazzfeel und folkigem Songwriting verleiht dem Album seine besondere Stimmung. Die Produktion wirkt zugleich intim und luftig, die Stimmung des Titelsongs bleibt als eindringlicher, melancholischer Schwerpunkt bestehen. Insgesamt ist Solid Air ein reifes, einflussreiches Werk in Martyns Diskographie — introspektiv, textlich oft knapp, musikalisch reichhaltig. Es verbindet technische Einfälle (Echoplex) mit starker Songqualität.

Two John Martyn records are too many, and though each has its moments, neither has enough to make them top-shelf records. Previously, one has preferred the looser-scruffier-scattier-jazzier One World, though it’s so scatty as to make the lyrics unintelligible, which suggests maybe the lyrics don’t matter. More recently, Solid Air would seem something like a better choice of posterity, and the first few cuts are a strong start. Did Pink Floyd outright rip off “I’d Rather Be the Devil” for the opening guitar riff of “Run Like Hell” or is it just similar delay effects? And was the wah-wah on “Dreams By the Sea” inspired by the Shaft OST? Who knows? And white British hippies singing about jellyrolls strains credibility, to put it mildly, but hey rock and roll of this era was all about cultural appropriation. That said, “I don’t want to know evil/I only want to know love” is among the quintessential hippie lyrics/sentiments. One wants to like this more than one actually does (not as good as Drake, probably for reasons of vocal quality), though will likely keep giving it a try on quiet nights, quiet mornings.

Ooh, I love this. A combination of some of my favorite genres: jazz, blues, folk, experimental. I’d never heard of John Martyn before, but now I want to listen to his other work. Favorites: Solid Air, Don’t Want To Know, Go Down Easy, The Man In The Station 4.5

ehh. the jazz elements here really made it stand out from a standard seventies singer-songwriter snoozefest (sorry nick cave), but won't be enough to save it. still, parts of this were interesting and i ended up enjoying most of the songs overall. it's a 3.5, but i'll round up because i am a wise and benevolent demigod. favorites: over the hill, i'd rather be the devil, dreams by the sea, may you never, the man in the station

This is just what I needed today. A nice, chill album.

Martyn said this was written for his friend Nick Drake, and you can definitely hear Drake's influence, especially in "Over The Hill." This album was kind of all over the place stylistically. Very folky at times, jazzy at others, funky and a bit of bossa nova. And while I didn't love all of it, there were enough good tracks that had me interested in listening to this some more and to more of Martyn's music in general.

7/10 Best Songs were I'd rather be the devil dreams by the sea the man in the station good listen jazz plus sad plus rock and roll

Solid Air - 4/5 Over the Hill - 4/5 Don't Want to Know - 5/5 I'd Rather Be the Devil - 3/5 Go Down Easy - 5/5 Dreams by the Sea - 5/5 May You Never - 3/5 The Man in the Station - 5/5 The Easy Blues - 3/5 Average score: 4.1/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this started ROUGH for me personally with the first track. it grew on me a bit with one more listen. love the beautiful and heartfelt lyrics dedicated to Nick Drake, but it's a bit of a mumbly mess. i suppose I'm willing to overlook it fortunately, the album picked up steam after that. i like his sound. he's vocally and instrumentally similar to Nick Drake, but he leans into some jazz/soul in a way that sets him apart as well this was a decent listen overall. i think i still prefer the more understated sound of Drake, but i do quite like a handful of tracks here. i could see myself revistiting this in the future or exploring the rest of this guy's discography

3.7 It's pretty good, I preferred to his other outing that appeared on here. Fantastic guitar playing, few of the quieter ones don't land as well. But all round pretty positive.

Liked all the tonal shifts

Haven't heard of him before and I'm wondering how because this album is absolutely fantastic?? Like, wow. The jazzy, folky instrumentals are perfect for shit autumn weather 4/5

Gentle, calm music. Enjoyed a lot.

day 1: as if nick drake came out of the deep south, scrummy blend of loose acoustic folk, improvisational bluesy ballads and tight jazz-country tunes

Groovy, jazzy, bluesy, lots going on here. A very enjoyable listen for these ears.

A different sound of the 70s. Never really attracted enough attention, but this is good music.

3.5

I’m thinking John Martyn is like the Captain Beefheart of Eric Claptons.