From its supremely inventive arrangements and complete reinvention of the source material, to the irresistible sweep of the performances and the startling emotional power of Sarah Jane Morris's voice, Sweet Little Mystery takes you on a fascinating journey of discovery through the John Martyn songbook. Morris and her co-arranger Tony Rémy's deep-seated affection for these songs shine through every lovingly crafted bar. The supremely understated album opener ‘Fairytale Lullaby’ is delicately borne along by intertwining acoustic guitars, giving Morris's lustrous contralto voice all the space it needs to work its familiar magic. By contrast, ‘Couldn't Love You More’ is satisfyingly deluxe, featuring string quartet, brass and backing vocalists, with the sudden shift from C to F major when the band kicks in just one of many strokes of arranging genius. ‘Head and Heart’ is marked by a gradual intensification of the groove (fine work here by Barker), while Morris delivers Martyn's moving tribute to Nick Drake, ‘Solid Air’, with a biting intensity. Other highlights include the tender lyricism of the title-track and the stadium-sized gospel take on ‘Don't Want To Know’, the latter lit up by a blistering Rémy solo.