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Leyla McCalla: Sun Without the Heat review – a freewheeling, joyous listen
The American multi-instrumentalist combines a wide range of Black musical traditions on her beautifully crafted fifth solo album
Multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla was exploring the Black legacies of country music and Americana long before Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter made the idea mainstream. Glittering, highlife-inspired guitars are a buoyant touch on celebratory tracks such as Open the Road and Take Me Away, while the plaintive plucking of Tree and the sweeping cello of I Want to Believe showcase McCalla’s storytelling songwriting, presenting hopeful tales of self-exploration. While the heavier, distorted guitars of Tower and Love We Had feel somewhat jarring in the ebullient context of the album, Sun Without the Heat is a freewheeling and joyous listen, with McCalla employing her knowledge of musical traditions to produce fresh combinations.
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