John Martyn, Solid Air 1973.
John Martyn is widely known for his Folk music but the man was so much more than that. He had a masterful use of jazz, blues and rock as well and all of this is utilised sublimely in this truly magnificent album. Solid Air is an album that has received universally acclaim continuously since it’s release. It’s an album that showcases Martyn’s wide musical range and adaptive vocals.
The song Solid Air is nothing short of a masterpiece with Danny Thompson’s Deeply long and lazy sounding double bass lines. There’s beautifully simple keyboards timed along with the bass and Pentangles Terry Coe’s easy saxophones subtlety play the song out. The song is apparently about Martyn’s good and troubled friend the late great Nick Drake, another favourite of mine. Drake unfortunately took an overdose a year later. Martyn’s wife was also suffering depression and lays claim that the song could have also been about her.
The first part of ‘I Don’t want to know’ centres around Martyn’s acoustic Guitar, and there are similarities to previous song at first. The vocals are more prominent and halfway through the song lifts slightly with keyboards and a backing singer.
‘I’d rather be the devil’ as a guitarist he was known for his technical brilliance and this in parts sounds like an early version of Pink Floyd’s ‘Run like Hell’ as he churns outs the lyrics. Martyn’s songs have an incredible way of changing pace and the change towards the end here is eloquently done.
Dreams by the Sea is a heavier, more Funky sounding song. There’s lots on offer here and the drums are busier. Martyn’s guitar has a great twang and there are also faster jazz segments and faster vocals.
Solid Air has great variations in style and John Martyn knows exactly how to execute and incorporate all these styles. After 22 studio albums you are bound to have hits and misses but this is an album that can do no wrong.
Album cover 7/10
Music 9/10
Record quality 8/10