Martyn – The Air Between Words - Ninja Tune

It would be fair to say that Martyn's previous albums were characterized by a claustrophobic feel, with his instinctive blends of techno, house, and dubstep shrouded in dense, often murky textures. It's interesting, then, that The Air Between Words - his third full length, and first for Ninja Tune - is a much breezier, more accessible affair. The trademark hard-to-define eclecticism is still present, but there's newfound maturity to the musical flourishes and bold grooves. The result is an album that pleasingly refuses to settle on one groove, tempo or style, variously touching on jazz-influenced percussive techno ("Drone"), symphonic ambiance, folksy electro-pop (Inga Copeland collaboration "Love of Pleasure"), woozy, rave-influenced dancefloor electronica ("Forgiveness Step 2") and saucer-eyed Balearica (the thrilling closing track, "Fashion Skater").