Don Cavalli – Temperamental

The second LP from this idiosyncratic Frenchman sees him augment the psych-blues template of his 2008 debut Cryland with touches of electro (Santa Rita), sitar (Feel Not Welcome) and banjo (The Greatest), among other ingredients. The result could be a mess, but it remains firmly anchored by Cavalli’s thick, rasping vocals and deliciously warm, overdriven guitar tone; both of these key elements are close-miked throughout, giving Temperamental a sense of consistency and intimacy.

Cavalli undeniably has a way with a vintage blues riff, particularly on the title track, which channels the effortless swagger of JJ Cale. In fact, it’s the album’s embellishments and forays into other genres which sound less convincing. While eccentric hip hop-inflected experiments like Row My Boat sound like the sort of thing Captain Beefheart might have arrived at in the 90s if he’d stuck at it, they do lack the infectious simplicity of Temperamental’s more generic moments. [Sam Wiseman]