with a r-r-r-ratchet
A fine line separates Pharaoh Sanders from Kenny G; and in 28 years of fronting a fully electric band, John Martyn hasn’t always stayed on the right side of it. For example, though 1983’s Philentropy seems to complement 1980's coruscating Grace & Danger studio set, these twin peaks of improvisational AOR were in fact separated by two albums of schmalz recorded for Warner Brothers. But G&D isn't the only reference point here. Philentropy was released independently, just as Live at Leeds, JM’s previous live recording, had been 8 years earlier; and it demonstrated the same restless spirit. 1983’s rock band could not hope to be as fleet as 1975’s semi-acoustic power trio, but it was extraordinarily alert for all that; and JM was constantly pushing band and material into terra incognita. The Johnny Too Bad (JM’s ‘My Favourite Things’) here is the most exciting I’ve heard; and in a now-extensive JM live catalogue, this album remains second only to the Leeds set.
