John Martyn – The Simmer Dim (CD)

Named for a local description of the summer twilight in the Shetlands, The Simmer Dim is a shining example of John Martyn’s inimitable talents. Recorded live on 12 August, 1980, at the intimate Garrison Theatre in Lerwick, the album finds a solo Martyn creating the sound of a guitar orchestra with his trademark echo-plex effects (hear the 18-minute ‘Outside In’) and drawing a rapt audience close with an impassioned ‘Couldn’t Love You More’, from his classic 1977 album, One World. Captivating and complex in equal measure, Martyn switches with ease from the gentle beauty of some of his most-loved material to raucous tales that have the 280 souls present hooting with laughter – all the while in the command of his art and his audience alike. Fans who are yet to hear this stunning performance will find they can’t love it more.