This Manchester guitarist is best known for his work in the Cinematic Orchestra, and his solo albums occupy a similar space between modal jazz, funk and electronica. His fourth LP, exploring notions of urban space, is written with drummer and producer Richard Spaven, and features several guest singers.
Fridolijn van Poll contributes to the flamenco-tinged Effergy; Zero 7’s Sophie Barker sighs over the wayward beats of Said and Done; Basement Jaxx’s Sharlene Hector provides the harmonised voices for the lovely North Star; while the title track is based around cut-up fragments of JP Cooper.
The best tracks, however, are instrumentals. On T-Onics and Trio Seven, McCallum plays Davy Graham-style clawhammer acoustic guitar over sliced-up breakbeats, while tracks Inhale and Mk II see him providing strong, bucolic melodies that recall Pat Metheny. McCallum contributes a few highly chromatic solos, with a pleasing Grant Green tone, but seems happier blending into the background of his ominous urban soundscapes.
