Martin Callingham
Album: Tonight We All Swim Free
Label: Folkwit
Tracks: 10
Website: http://martincallingham.com/

Carefully orchestrated with a meticulous placement of instrumental phrases this album nonetheless maintains focus on the broader sonic landscape. Each track has been precisely crafted to exude its own individual charm. The opening track Rhosgoch is one of two instrumentals and highlights the importance of strings on the album; an interesting choice for a musician who otherwise seems to place guitar and vocal at the core of his sound.

The second instrumental is called 'Ken' and consists of a beautiful guitar solo backed by a field recording which sounds like it was captured in a school corridor. Described in the accompanying press notes as 'lo-fi pop /alt-folk' this album certainly has a relaxed and informal feel whilst its track names refer to place names, tides, knots and hares in keeping with the pastoral and naval themes of folk.

Highlights include the climactic cymbal and trumpet entry of 'Portland Square' and the subsequent contrasting track 'Gliding' with its simple weaving of words around piano, guitar and backing vocal riffs. 'Build Us a Path' contains the album title within its lyrics and is reminiscent of Kings of Convenience with some gentle snare drums and rhythmic guitar riffs.

I did not mind the absence of sleeve notes on this occasion, which allows room for interpretation and takes emphasis away from the lyrics. I wonder if this is part of an intention that the listener perceive the voice as one of a number of instruments rather than as the featured sound rising above a tapestry of instruments; yet lyrics are a powerful piece of this musical jigsaw.

The album was disappointingly short. Perhaps the tracks could be longer although the shorter pieces have a poignancy which seems to allow Callingham to say all he intends to.

Martin Callingham is a delicate guitarist and a sensitive communicator and I have enjoyed his live performances in the past. Tonight We All Swim Free is Martin's first solo album following on from his success as front man of Joyce the Librarian. Littered with uplifting riffs and gently driving rhythms encouraged by bass, drums and guitars, this album is a shrewd selection of polyphonic musings.

Louise Jordan