John Martyn
Grace & Danger
Antilles (US) 1980
AN 7081 (LP)
sleeve : EX-(wear on corner, slightly color-faded)
media : EX/EX(some slightly noise)
A masterpiece album released in 1980 by British singer-songwriter John Martyn, who had been active since the late 1960s, and also featured in the first edition of the guidebook Obscure Sound. Phil Collins appears on drums and backing vocals. Built around blues, country and folk-inflected adult-oriented rock, this is also a record whose pensive atmosphere could be heard as one of the roots of Gigi Masin, the Italian ambient master whose music has been enjoying renewed attention in recent years. The use of electric piano is especially beautiful throughout. Highly recommended are A3, where the delicate acoustic guitar, fluid bassline, wet and melancholic electric piano, and Martyn’s slightly husky vocal tone come together in a mellow, urban sound that lingers deeply; and B4, an AOR groove featuring soft, rounded synthesizer textures.
A3: Lookin' On
A4: Johnny Too Bad
B4: Save Some (For Me)