The first thing you’ll notice about this record is the deft simplicity of the core songs. Simple acoustic fingerpicking, kind of lazy, kind of urgent, just like the lyrics. Callahan’s voice is only getting better with time, it sounds a resonant deep brown, with occasional flashes of black, blue, green and red. The string arrangements are sublime, with gusts carrying scents of an old world, rich spices and sea air. I reckon this is a record for the afternoon. It is up there with the first Callahan release ‘Woke On A Whaleheart’ and with some albums from his previous Smog moniker like ‘Supper’ (both also available from us). It’s a new direction, with a defiantly new feel which seems already settled on the mans brooding/shrugging shoulders. Recommended to fans of anything from Fred Neil to Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.
