Various

Long a revered and influential figure in Britain, late great folk-rock songsmith John Martyn has remained a cult favourite this side of the Atlantic. No surprise then that, aside from the notable likes of Joe Bonamassa, Vetiver and Clarence Fountain and Sam Butler (Blind Boys of Alabama), the line-up on this double CD tribute set is primarily British. Such albums are inevitably uneven, but the success rate here is pleasingly high. It's hard to screw up material this musically and lyrically rich. Notable names include Beth Orton, David Gray, Beck, the Swell Season, Paolo Nutini, Vashti Bunyan and Morcheeba, and they turn in expectedly high-quality versions, with Orton and Beck shining brightest. A highlight is Robert Smith's take on "Small Hours," suggesting Martyn may well have been an influence on the Cure's moody sound. Martyn's pioneering, atmospheric, dub-inflected work in the '70s is similarly now viewed as a progenitor of the trip-hop style. After a promising start, Snow Patrol stumble on signature Martyn tune "May You Never," by over-reaching for the epic, something Martyn never did. Phil Collins may have been a close friend and Martyn career booster, but his contribution ("Tearing and Breaking") is typically banal. Quite a few lesser-known artists appear, with those impressing including Ted Barnes, Lisa Hannigan and Syd Kitchen. A worthwhile tribute, especially if it encourages more people to check out Martyn's rich catalogue (such as Solid Air and One World).