No Little Boy

On No Little Boy, John Martyn reconsiders his past work from a mature perspective. There are few traces of his folkie period to be heard here — his distinctive acoustic-guitar touch is downplayed in favor of a lustrous jazz-rock ensemble sound. Signature tunes like “Bless the Weather,” “Solid Air,” and “Head and Heart” lose their former intimacy in favor of a punchier, more percussive approach. Phil Collins’ vocal presence on “Ways to Cry” and “Could’ve Been Me” help push these tracks into sleek Adult Rock territory; Levon Helm’s appearance on “Just Now” brings out the song’s loping funkiness; and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and sax player Andy Sheppard make key contributions on various tracks as well. As a singer, Martyn twists and teases syllables with an enraptured, slightly woozy air to often mesmerizing effect. He slides from the seductive “Sweet Little Mystery” to the wistful “Fine Lines” to the uplifting “One World” with a sure feel for nuance and dynamics. Even when the arrangements seem slick and chilled-out, Martyn’s brooding passion manages to burn through. No Little Boy captures a seasoned veteran in full command of his art.