In The Small Hours.....

John Martyn September 11th 1948 - January 29th 2009

When i was around 17, i lay on the floor of the ex-wife's bedroom stoned off my rocker.
I sat in the dark while she lay asleep on the bed behind me. The screen flickered away while i stared out the window. Suddenly this noise came out of the TV that i will never forget.

John Martyn's performance of his track 'I'd Rather Be The Devil' on The Grey Whistle Test started and blew my mind. It was like the first time you hear that Hendrix sound, or a Miles Davis intro. Certain people manage to carve their own style out of whatever creative thing they do. Martyn was a master of this. He created a style, and has truly left this planet with something great.

I urge ALL of you to go and buy his album 'Solid Air'. It is probably on most people's top 20 if not 10 greatest albums ever lists......


Many things have been said of Martyn as a person, and the majority is not too great. As with most geniuses, alcohol and drugs often got the better of him. However with such creativity over the years, he will hopefully be remembered for the power of his music.

Seriosuly people, his album's cost around £5 from most good record shops (yes, record shops, NOT HMV....) so go and pick one up.

http://www.musiclikedirt.com/wp-content/MP3/TEN4SE7EN23/Small%20Hours.mp3

Here is a tune i've dug out called 'Small Hours'. (Many thanks to musiclikedirt.com for doing the hard work) I think it highlights the beauty of his vocal and guitar styles. He recorded it alone, in the dark, in the middle of the night by a lake. You can clearly hear the geese on the water and the fast train to London passing by throughout the loops of the song. I think this may be one of the best pieces of 'ambient' music ever written.

Ya heard.....!