T
his, the 30th recording by the “Welsh Springsteen”, marks
an artistic milestone. The set compellingly revisits 15 of the
Cardiff-based singer-songwriter’s finest creations, not only in
FOLK
celebration of their durability but also to chart just how much
they’ve evolved since they were written, having been honed
into shape through many years of continuous performance.
For, as Martyn plainly yet modestly admits, in many cases his
earlier recordings of these songs bear little resemblance to
where they reside artistically today.
(&&/
The cover artwork for Evolved symbolically illustrates Martyn
7).4%24/52
effectively taking a wrecking ball to his original takes on
*!.5!29
these songs, granting them a fresh new atmosphere in 4(54%7+%3"542(9%2/3%34(%!42%
which to breathe more freely – thereby forging a newly &2)%8%4%42(%0(/%.)8!243#%.42%
definitive statement of their essence. In doing so, Martyn
3!44252/4(%(!,,&/2#/2.7!,,
has never sounded better. Quite literally, this disc stops
&%"25!29
you in your tracks. For here, stripped down to basics (voice
35.9%/6)4,(%/#4!'/.4(%!42% 
plus guitar, with occasional harmonica), is all Martyn’s
45%),&2!#/-4"(%%,!.$-!2+4(%!42%
trademark fieriness of delivery, choked with pure emotion,
7%$"!3).'344/(+%!.6), 
4(57/24().4('%0!6),)/. 
the uncompromising gravelly intensity and total passion and
&2)7%34/.
350%24
-(%!20%,!9(/53%
commitment of his live performances, in a recording that
3!4,/.$/5..)/.#(!0%,INFOONLY 
captures for all time the immediacy of his presence and the 35.34!&&/2'$!4%(/53%4(%!42% 
sheer power of his writing. 45%25.#/2".2).$,%9!243#%.42%
7%$(!22/'!(4!%22/'!4%4(%!42%
Martyn has produced a canon of strikingly unforgettable
4(5()'(79#/4-("%%37!. 
songs, which together embrace a consistency of vision and
&2)45."2)$'%7!%3,3,%3-",9(!,,4(%!42%
an unwavering integrity, an awareness of the bigger picture 3!4,%!-).'4/.4(3%0!2/9!,30!#%.42%
alongside a true, and detailed, understanding of the issues
35.(5.34!.40/2.).#%334(%!42%
within. This is strongly in evidence whether through the
45%,).#/4,(.%$2),,(!,, 
aching vulnerability of love songs like Turn Me Tender and
7%$-),4/.+%94.(%%334!",%3 
Have An Angel Walk With Her, his depth of sympathy for This
4(5#(%34%2&4)%(,%$7).$).'7(%%,
&2)(5$$%23&),%!,7$2%.#%"!4,%94(%!42%
Being Woman (portrayed with an uncanny sensuousness),
3!4"52.,%-9%#(!.)#34(%!42% 
or the painfully honest self-therapy of Weight Of The World.
35.&!2.(!&-!2.(!--!,4).'3 
Through the politically charged anger of the tale of folk hero
45%34!,"!4.(3%!,"!.!2%.! 
Dic Penderyn, and the string of Wales-centred masterpieces 4(5.%7#!344,(%%*/52.!,49.%4(%!42%
including Sing To My Soul (focusing on the Aberfan disaster)
&2)%$)."524'((%15%%.3(!,, 
and the almost unbearably poignant Cardiff Bay, Please Sir
3!4$5.$%4%(%7()4%(!,,4(%!42%
and Proud Valley Boy (which employ heartfelt dignity to
-!2#(
portray Martyn’s interaction with his heritage).
35.',!3'/47(%0!6),)/.4(%!42%
45%$5-&2)4%(3%4(%!42%2/9!, 
The collection is encased in a
7%$)3,%/&-#!%.4%.!29#%.42%0%%,
suitably innovative package too,
4(5+%.$!",2%7%29!243#%.42%
its hardy slip-case containing
&2)3/54(0/!22443#%.42% 
song lyrics on individual art-
3!4")2-).'(4!/-7.(!,, 
cards. In a nutshell, this has
SPECIAL

G
+
UE
%
S
.
TS
.)#/,0(),#//,
to be Martyn’s most essential
album – both in the literal
sense, and in the sense that of
all his records it most accurately
conveys, in the course of just
over an hour, the essence of
Martyn Joseph
Martyn’s towering achievement
EVOLVED
in his chosen field. Proper PRPCD045
David Kidman
Click on ALBUM COVER to buy now
FC09tourprophalf.indd 1 2/12/08 12:45:00 pm
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