by Philip Moss

Landing perfectly in sync with the fluttering of windscreen wipers, MJ Lenderman’s hands punctuate a rhythm on Gentleman Jack that somehow makes life feel like a drive where the landscape rolls past your car windows in slow motion – as Asheville, North Carolina songwriter welcomes you into his fuzzy little world.

Like Daniel Johnston fronting a country band, Lenderman offers a momentary flash of blue sky – a break from the dreariness of the post winter/pre spring weather – with this second taste from his upcoming album, Ghost Of Your Guitar Solo. Written using a set of writing exercises developed by David Berman, Lenderman’s quirky sense of humour comes across through a collage of disparate ideas – with the image of ‘Jack Nicholson’s court side seat – purple foam imprinted with celebrity asscheek’ a highlight. After his band, Wednesday’s brilliant I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone last year, it looks like Ghost Of Your Guitar Solo will make it back to back ‘must listens’ from MJ Lenderman – and Gentleman Jack is a must for your next road trip mixtape.

Ghost Of Your Guitar Solo is out on 26th March via Dear Life Records.

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