JOHN & BEVERLEY MARTYN: STORMBRINGER!

Beverley Kutner met John Martyn in 1969. In the fashion of that era, they were quickly married and recorded two duo albums in the span of a year before Beverley stepped back from direct participation. "Stormbringer" is the first, and considered a key moment in the evolution of Martyn, though it's static in a decidedly non-Darwinian manner. You would think that, with two songwriters, two singers, superb guest artists in particular on piano and bass, this would at least offer more variety than John's prior solo releases, but this is like the gray water used in showers by those who take our environmental crisis seriously, simply there, utilitarian and lacking in good taste, only slicker.

It's an anonymous piano based bluesy folk with nary a hook or quotable line in its near 40 minutes, let alone much in the way of tempo changes. I'm not sure to whom to compare it, because I'm even less sure if anyone else has bothered. Perhaps PETER GREEN era FLEETWOOD MAC. Maybe LINDISFARNE's 1969 debut, but several leagues below it. A few passing allusions to SANDY DENNY? "Woodstock" is the only tune reminiscent of the prior two discs, mostly "Tumbler", but is better than most of that album because it's a veritable beacon here. Otherwise, this album's name is utterly in opposition to its effects.