Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

1085.0. "John Martyn ---New CD, "Foundations"" by AQUA::ROST (That woman liked long neck bottles) Fri Feb 12 1988 10:53

Yesterday I picked up a copy of the new John Martyn CD, called 
"Foundations".  It's on Island, the U.S. number is 7 90853-2, it's ADD, 
TT=49:45.

For those who may remember Martyn as an eccentric folkie, this will be a 
shock.  He's been playing electric since about 1980, and this CD finds him 
with two keyboardists, bass, drums, percussion and his own heavily distorted 
Les Paul.  It's a live recording from a night club in London.

The songs range from the early part of his career to his later period, but  
with only nine songs, two of which are new (I think), the weighting is on 
stuff from the 80's.  There are two songs apiece from his last two studio 
efforts, with the versions here a mixed bag.

His cover of "Over the Rainbow" is played more like jazz here, where it was 
electro-poppish in the studio.  On the other hand, "John Wayne" and 
"Angeline" are much better here than in the studio versions.

Martyn's vocals have turned into a gargled rasp that I find quite emotive, 
and his band knows their way around the typical jazz-fusion moves.  The 
songs live and die mostly on their mood, which in typical Martyn fashion is 
centered around loves lost and found.

Those of you who enjoy romantic, moody music with jazz undertones should 
enjoy this disc.  It is a good introduction to Martyn, although the song 
selection could have benefitted from inclusion of older classic tunes like 
"Solid Air", "Head and Heart" or "Sweet Little Mystery".

On the technical side, the sound is very crisp and well-defined, hiss is
minimal and some of the intro raps to the songs (but not all) are indexed. 

**************************************************************************

On a side note, this CD was a *cutout*, even though it was apparently 
issued only last fall.  Until I saw it in the bin yesterday, I had no idea 
it was even available; if a dedicated fan like me can't find out that the 
album is out, who can????  Boo, hiss....First you issue Tom Waits' "Rain 
Dogs" in a cardboard sleeve, then you leave "Paper Sun" off the Traffic 
"Mr. Fantasy" CD, now this...you should be ashamed Island!!!!