Customer Reviews

Sweet Little Mysteries: The Island Anthology

5 star:		(11)
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3 star:		(1)
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This is the place to savour John Martyn's mellifluous music. He has a warm voice, at times, searching at others, celebratory. There's an altogether sumptuous melding of folk and jazz in his phrasing and playing. He was into this blend probably prior to Joni Mitchell, and to my ears, he made a more peruasive, more resolved fusion of the genres. Why people prefer Nic Drake over Martyn is more to do with media hype than talent, I suggest. The domain of the solitary soul was never more eloquently charted than here on this great compilation. Pity,'Grace & Danger', didn't cut with the producers. But 'Sweet Little Mystery', 'Solid Air', and ,'Johnny Too Bad' are in tact and to be savoured like your favourite juice smoothy, through a long straw. An excellent investment!

where did this guy come from? i happen to hear "one world" on satellite radio (thank you XM!) and immediately looked him up. martyn has the whiskey-soaked voice of (fellow scotsman) rod stewart with louie armstrong thrown in, the spiritual intensity of van morrison and the jazzy folk sound of joni mitchell.

i've never heard anything quite like it. all of his songs are melodic and interesting and some, like "one world," "small hours" are transcendent and as beautiful as any music i've ever heard. trust me -- check this guy out.

I came to JM after Clapton, Winwood, et al and he is so much better. The secret is that he is so consistent throughout the phases of his career that are sampled on this album. Even the likes of EC and Bowie have dimples on their pimples, but it seems that JM just keeps on doing the same great stuff over and over. And like Van Morrison, he is less mainstream and therefore seems to not be inflicted with superstar ego ambitions. A career to start to be appreciated...

This album charts John Martyn's progress from unreconstructed folkie to his jazz fringed arrangements. His guitar work, which drifts into the background in his later work, is beautifully exposed. His echoplex work is some of the most haunting you will hear. Well worth purchasing.

This is a phenomenal selection of John Martyn's music. I have owned it for years and it is always in my CD player. Another reviewer called it "rainy day music," and I agree. For a couple of years I played it every Sunday morning while I brewed some coffee and read the paper. He writes easy to listen to, but musically complex, songs, so you can listen repeatedly without getting bored. And what a voice - world-weary yet achingly beautiful. John also did some experimental electronic music that never really touched me, so I prefer this compilation because it focuses on the acoustic, really beautiful, songs he has written and recorded. He could have been, and should have been, as popular as Joni Mitchell or James Taylor, but that is a different story. Trust me - this is a can't miss if you like early James Taylor or Joni Mitchell, acoustic Beatles(think "Michelle" or "Julia"), or others in that vein.

The songs in this compilation cover a great range of Martyn's talents and songwriting. I like it because of of that and it's a CD I always take with me on trips. His voice is used like another instrument on many songs. It is a shame he is not as well known as he should be. Although with the likes of Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and David Gilmore playing on some of the tracks; it shows he has respect in the music business. I believe that once you listen to this CD you will want to hear more of him and buy more. It is great to see so many of his albums now on CD and available. If you don't buy any other, this is a great CD to have in your collection.

This is one of the best cd's i have in my coll. his guitar playing is fantastic! It's classic rainy day mood music, you'll want to listen to more of his music once you hear this!

It is difficult to give an accurate and comprehensive description of John Martyn music. Especially when, as in this case, it is about a compilation that covers a period exceeding fifteen years.

From a starting point in the acoustic folk music, Martyn worked with many different genres, often in very personal ways. Vocally he has also undergone a significant development and he has at times attributed to a special, somewhat mumbling vocal style.

There are fine tracks on all albums represented, but there is naturally a main focus of his acclaimed Island albums from the mid-1970s.

Few songs are immediately catchy, but songs like "Over the Hill, " "I Do not Want to Know" and "May You Never"from "Solid Air, ""Fine Line" from "Inside Out " and "One Day Without You, "" Lay It All Down "and especially" Spencer the Rover " should be enough to convince about Martyn's great qualities.

A few of the later numbers may seem a little more mainstream, but they are in a different way fine songs, too - especially "Sweet Little Mystery, " "Fisherman's Dream" and "Send Me One Line ".

Fine informative booklet with biography and detailed information about individual numbers.

John Martyn definitely falls into the tortured artist genre and, unfortunately, he is no longer with us. This is a great overview to begin your journey into his genius. But titles like "Solid Air," Sunday's Child" and "One World" belong in every serious music collection.

Martin plays a mean acoustic guitar and his slap-style is second to none. On a lot of his later albums he plugs the guitar into a box ----that to my mind, takes away a lot of the intrinsic beauty. This album is pure guitar, cool lyrics and John's awesomely slurred vocal renditions. He is totally brill in concert---this album matches his energy there.