BLESS THE WEATHER

You don't just summon the virtuosity of RICHARD THOMPSON, DANNY THOMPSON, PAUL KOSSOFF and "RABBIT" unless you've garnered some attention prior to said summons, which apparently JOHN MARTYN did during the commercially unsuccessful collaborations with spouse BEVERLEY. Here she is relegated to occasional backing vocals on a surprisingly carefree release as these matters go.

Apart from one abysmal blues number and an overrated but decent instrumental, this is an inspired take on singer songwriter folk rock with the added bonus of AAA session folk that somehow don't even overshadow MARTYN's playing. Apart from the earnest attention grabbing opener, "Bless the Weather" skips merrily from strength to strength from the Caribbean enhanced "Walk to the Water" to the LOGGINS and MESSINA like "Back Down the River", and the influence of NICK DRAKE's only slightly depressed alter ego everywhere. "Just Now" and "Head and Heart" would be my picks if forced to choose just one (!), the first for all the above reasons and the second for Martyn's savvy, rhythmic technique that attains its apex in the closing minutes when paired with Danny's double bass..

Easily Martyn's best to this point, "Bless the Weather" delivers sunshine heaped upon sunshine, perhaps reflecting a relatively happy period in his life, but without being cloying in the slightest. Unexpected and better for it.