Martyn Joseph
Album: Sanctuary
Label: Pipe
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.martynjoseph.net/

The mark of the man as Martyn graciously brushes aside my faux-pas about 1992 top 40 hit 'Dolphin's Make Me Cry'. It's November 3rd 2012 and my baptism into the world of folk and roots having spent more years than I care to remember immersed in pop radio. Compelling performance from both artists on the bill, Martyn tonight offering patronage to rising star Luke Jackson.

Something of a comic too as when returning to the venue nearly a year to the day remarkably Martyn recalls his quip about fireworks heard nearby as his welcome to town.

Fast forward back to the future or rather present with official release of "Sanctuary" on October 30th, reuniting Martyn with Grammy award winning producer Ben Wisch. Their first coming together with Martyn newly signed to Sony Records and Ben recently masterminding 'Walking in Memphis' for Marc Cohn now working on Martyn's "Being There". Time the only distance as it's 25 years since this union, Ben was invited to have another go only this time around far less budget.

Surprising first and second listen of "Sanctuary" which was heard in less than ideal conditions, the CD handed by postman through the car window as we were on our way out. Granted nothing out of the ordinary, the extraordinary though from my wife (now a new convert) vocalising by end of 'The Luxury of Despair' and from the first asking 'Are You Ready' pointers to the wisdom of physician and patient reuniting to record with a stellar line-up of musicians at Ben's Ridgewood, New Jersey home studio. The band having worked with such luminaries as Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon amazingly in the first two days record nine songs in straight takes, temper and faith an overwhelming reality.

Following day "Sanctuary" is given a listen without interruption to discover the depth of compassion and love within.

'I Searched For You' a trek not without a share of problems becomes quest as each time love is found., it's then lost again on the way. Bitter-sweet in 'When We Will Find ?" which captures from the start with an hypnotic rhythm provided by guitar of Kevin Barry and Zev Katz on bass. Climax is the second asking of the question in both instances by Martyn, alternating between sweet and raucous.

Live try-out for 'The Light Of Guatemala' with audiences recorded to provide the choir of light. The incessant rhythm placing you dancing at a moonlight beach party, so distant from the plight of homeless children on the streets of Guatemala. Let Yourself Trust a charity founded by Martyn in 2014 to support various humanitarian causes at home and abroad. One such form of aid made in partnership with Project Somos. http://letyourself.net/project-somos/

'Bobby' also receiving road test earlier in 2015, a song about American human rights campaigner and based upon the movie "Ethel" widow of Bobby Kennedy.

Following a song returning love for the person in his life always one step behind "Her Name Is Rose' dedicated to his mother. Antje (pronounced Aunt-yuh) provides backing vocals on 'Girl Soldier' which suggests a search for sanctuary ,which we are now rapidly approaching, the journey having brief interlude when Martyn takes our hand and leads us to dance at the feet of 'Cherry Blossom Girl'.

Exhilarated from our assertions we arrive at title song 'Sanctuary' a beautiful instrumental allowing room for Martyn to display his own graceful acoustic playing from a collection of 22 strings, leads gently into the proud valley boy exalting his nationality in 'Land Of Evermore'.

Martyn's available back catalogue on his own label through web site http://www.piperecords.co.uk includes more recent studio releases "Kiss The World Beautiful - Songs For The Let Yourself Trust" 2014 and the previous years "Tires Rushing By In The Rain" - the regard as being the Welsh Springsteen not overlooked when the album received praise in US Springsteen devoted magazine "Backstreets". Also find Vegas (2007) with a selection from the intervening years.

For those seeking Martyn's earlier albums, unfortunately a number now out of print, it is heartening to see fine examples of his characterising work reappear on single reissue of 1992's debut "Being There" and the self titled Martyn Joseph (1995) made accessible in 2014 as a two for one disc by Talking Elephant Records.

With combined album sales of over half a million records stretching across 30 years, countless live shows and his music crossing all boundaries, continued support of Let Yourself Trust (shameless plug http://letyourself.net/) , the latest tour for "Sanctuary" raises difficult task for the ever busy Martyn in bringing eclipse to this new career peak.

Tony Wilding