UK: Stuart McCallum-Solitude Part ii (2019)

Stuart McCallum is one of the most exciting, innovative and creative guitarists and composers working today. His series of EPs for Edition Records represent his personal expression and ability at its most pure and unmediated. 2018’s Solitude, a completely improvised series of vignettes, explored the subtleties and emotive nuances of the acoustic guitar in a breathtakingly beautiful way. The follow up, Solitude part ii, uses pre-composed devices and the live looping ideas that Stuart has developed in the live arena in a studio setting. The result is an extraordinary sound palette that manages to be soulful and experimental at the same time. Stuart describes the process: “In order to experiment with these sounds I turned the whole computer into a loop pedal, recording the music section by section (each section being completely finished before moving onto the next) to imitate the way I would play them live.” Corry Strand - This was inspired by the great Julian Lage track, 'Gardens' - it’s in the famous DADGAD tuning - an open string modal tuning popularised by the folk/jazz guitar legend Davey Graham. Corry Strand is a place in County Leitrim in Ireland on the shores of Lough Allen. Hide & Seek was inspired by the John Smith track 'Salty and Sweet'. "I wanted to bring my ambient influences to a more country/folk/roots sounding track.” Says Stuart. "This song emotes quite a childish and innocent feeling for me. It was fun to write and play."