Just back from London, where we visited friends with a new baby and saw two excellent plays: Howard Brenton’s vastly entertaining ‘Anne Boleyn‘, revived from last year at The Globe, with a superb central performance by Miranda Raison and the terrific production of ‘Betrayal’ at the Comedy Theatre, starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Douglas Henshall and Ben Miles. Like many men my age, I’ve had a bit of a crush on Kristen since seeing her in the dreadful Prince movie, ‘Under The Cherry Moon’ and it was a joy to see her acting her socks off, becoming youngier and sexier as the play progresses (the story has a reverse chronology, which was nicked for the famous Seinfeld episode of the same name). Henshall is excellent as her lover but it’s Ben Miles in the most difficult part as the husband who impresses most. An unmissable production.
I’ve written about John Martyn on here before. There’s a spotify playlist of my favourite Martyn songs, but it doesn’t include any numbers from the recent posthumous album, which was going to be called ‘Willing To Work’ before his death, and is now ‘Heaven And Earth’. I’ve listened to it several times and it’s a good, if not great, Martyn album. My favourite track from it is below. Next month sees the release of a tribute album, 2cds of covers, and, if the two tracks I’ve heard are any indication, it should be a loving, enjoyable project that will introduce John’s work to new listeners. Johnny Boy Would Love This should also remind others of the depth and range of John’s work. You can support John’s official website by ordering the album here. Below is Beth Orton’s lovely version of ‘Go Down Easy’ from ‘Solid Air’, the first John Martyn album I heard, back in 1973. And if you’d like to read an interview I did with John more than 33 years ago, look no further.
[...] 9. James Blake – Limit To Your Love The James Blake album creeps up on you. It’s sort of dubstep, but he’s absorbed an eclectic set of 70′s influences, possibly from his father, and John Martyn comparions aren’t out of order. I’m not sure if the songs are great but they certainly make great late night chill out music. Oh, and by the way, my favourite track from John Martyn’s final album is still available on this page. [...]