JOHN MARTYN is to Eric Clapton what Cast is to Oasis: the equally talented but less successful pea in the pod. He, too, deserves the sobriquet "Slowhand", and an honourable mention for his more contemporary blues sound, but ultimately he shares Clapton's earnest dullness.

His five-piece band is built on a rock-solid yet musical rhythm section which gives free range to Martyn's educated fingerpicking, and to tenor or soprano saxophone, which provide a highly effective melody line. The overall effect is not unpleasant - sort of Joe Cocker singing - along to Sade - but was unfortunately undone by his ineffectual stage manner.

Ultimately, the excessively synthesised sound and all-round smoothness led to the musical equivalent of processed cheese: easy to digest, but lacking the crucial edge somebody like Rory Gallagher would have provided.