Jono McCleery - Darkest Light

Apparently, Jono McCleery lives in a barge on the Thames. It’s a very pastoral, romantic choice of accommodation, one which chimes nicely with the undertones of Nick Drake running through his self-recorded first album. Darkest Light is a darkly melancholic take on the classic singer-songwriter set: it’s all pretty serious, introspective stuff, with the whole record mainly acting as a showcase for his rich baritone and intricate guitar work. Now and again, as on Stream or the title track, some haunting Celtic strings add atmosphere to the sparse production. If you’ve heard his guest slots on the uber-cool nu-soul 45s of Part Time Heroes, you’ll know it works well with a bit of back-up. On tracks like You And Me though, the folkier elements are countered by his unexpectedly soulful delivery, which sounds like an acoustic Jamie Lidell at times - rendering his deserved and recent signing to Ninja Tune as no surprise. Overall, Darkest Light is an accomplished and promising introduction. [Euan Ferguson]