| This Week's Highlights |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
|
@ DVDfever Youtube |
|
|
|
|
May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
|
Elly Roberts reviewsJohn Martyn
|
CD: On The Cobbles
After watching the farcical Eurovision Song Contest,
it was great to be back to real music. Some months ago I invested in the superb
‘ Acoustic 2 ‘ double CD. A track called Glory Box by singer – songwriter
John Martyn (right) led me to rediscover this mercurial genius once again. Born
Iain David McGeachy in New Malden Surrey, he spent his early years in Glasgow,
eventually learning the guitar under the spell of Hamish Imlach. In the 70’s he reached
cult status in the UK, and by the response he was given at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre, things haven’t changed much.
|
Perched on a low stool for the entire show, he was barely visible. Backlighting
of the minimalist kind set the sensual atmosphere, as he grappled with the multi – fusioning
set, which had heavy jazz overtones. There were moments of his blues
credibility, as he cradled his electric and acoustic guitars. Early vocal
recordings show a lightweight singer, but now he’s got one of the sexiest and
roughest larynx’s in the business. He almost made love to the microphone, as
his macho tones enveloped the theatre.
Song breaks brought almost unintelligible banter, not helped by his broad Glaswegian lilt. Clearly reinvigorated by his new found love, his mood was jovial to an extreme. Highlight of the gig was his acoustic work on Easy Blues and Make No Mistake, which brought roars of approval. The band – Spencer Cozens on keys, Arran Ahmun on drums and John Gilbin were outstanding, particularly Cozens’ numerous jazzy forays. Women were swooning at his handling of the lyrics, which seemed dreamier as the night wore on. I confess, I was in total awe of the man. The magic continues. |
Support act, Eva Abraham showed great promise as an excellent all –
rounder. Her disciplined dulcet tones drew parallels with songbird Eva Cassidy.
Playing tracks from her forthcoming album Shadow Gazing she proved to be
confident and relaxed in delivering her self – penned autobiographical work.
As the album title suggests she’s hoping to reach to top, and on the evidence of this set she’s heading in the right direction. The CD finds her too controlled, but she found her feet and let rip on some very passionate lyrics, on songs like It Breaks. |
|
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
