Sunday, 7 May 2017

John & Beverly Martyn - Stormbringer


Rating: 4/5

Review:
Still a fine album



I went back to Stormbringer recently after far too long and I was reminded what an excellent album it is.  After getting on for half a century it still sounds very good indeed.

This is a collection of largely very good songs, excellently performed.  There is a good glimpse of the guitar work which developed into near-genius and the singing is terrific.  John's voice and delivery has always had the ability to go straight to my heart and Beverley sounds just great here; lovely tone and a wonderfully bluesy delivery sometimes.  Some of the material, too, like the title track, John The Baptist and Can't Get The One I Want is absolutely first rate.

 The album isn't perfect.  The Ocean and Tomorrow Time are pleasant enough but aren't great songs and Sweet Honesty rambles on a little too long, but I really was surprised to find how well it had stood up and what a fine album it remains. 

(There is some "Bonus" material on the re-release which doesn't add up to much.  It's some demo recordings which are interesting to hear once and which long-term fans like me will probably be glad to have in their collection, but personally I just want to hear the album as it is on my original vinyl copy.)

In short, this is still a fine album which I can recommend wholeheartedly.


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