Album Review: Shadows In The Shade

J Callander’s album debut Shadows In The Shade is a wild journey through a self-proclaimed “outlaw-space-rock-album”, a labour of love that blends electric alternative rock with poetic lyrics and classic acoustic guitar textures. From the moment you hit play, you are in for a voyage that’s part storytelling, part sound exploration, and all with a deep pumping rock heart.

Opening with The Little People, I was immediately transported to an episode of the Firefly series (2002), Hero of Canton, where a poor ‘mudders’ sing a tale about meeting a hero space outlaw that battles with the rich ‘big’ people. It might just be me after having read the term ‘Outlaw Space Rock’, but this is the feeling I get from the track. With lyrics more pointed to our own world rather than the Firefly universe it still reminds me of A Hero Called Jayne (written by Ben Edlund).

While the album will appeal to nerds and geeks who will enjoy its world‑building references, the songs also suit easy‑listening rock fans who appreciate poetic, country‑tinged storytelling. With most songs taking their time to unfold, this nearly hour‑long album becomes more than a narrative experience – it’s a musical indulgence. It is a true music delight and as the man calls it himself, a masterclass in “South Island Noir”.

This opening track’s jangly guitars and warm vocals feel like a campfire story told under the stars, inviting you to imagine a universe where myth and reality blur. It is storytelling with the raw honesty of Bob Dylan and the rugged edge of Chris Cornell, wrapped in a soundscape that Callander paints for us with a worldly but cosmic twist.

The Real Surreal deepens the journey, evoking for me the vastness of space with shimmering drums and swirling guitars that could be the soundtrack for an Interstellar-like odyssey. It is a track that feels both intimate and infinite, like drifting through a dreamscape where time bends and emotions swell. The production here is lush yet grounded, balancing atmospheric layers with a driving rhythm that keeps you tethered to the music’s emotional rock base. The addition of child spoken words about black holes may have planted a seed to re-watch Interstellar again.

Production-wise, the album feels polished yet has a warm, human feel. The album features contributions from Richard Carlos‑Torr on bass, Alice Callander on piano, Andrew Harray on drums, and Matt Thompson on audio engineering. Skilled mixing and mastering by Aaron Glemboski ensure a cohesive sound that supports the storytelling without overpowering it.

The album channels the outlaw spirit with a fierce energy in Bring The Pain. It blends alternative rock grit and country twang into a potent brew. The song’s narrative feels like a page torn from a Stephen King novel, dark and mysterious, with lyrics that hint at battles both external and internal. The guitars cut sharp, the drums punch steady, and Callander’s vocals carry a weight that is both weary and defiant.

My Own Drum is a bold declaration of individuality; it is rhythm with a heartbeat that seems to get faster. The track’s layered instrumentation and catchy hooks make it a standout, with a vibe that nods to bands like Elbow and Eels while maintaining a uniquely New Zealand flavour. This song invites you to sway your shoulders or at least nod along with.

There is an emotional midpoint on the record. Callander keeps it slow and real, and the other instruments hang back just enough to let the emotion breathe. All I Can Bleed is one of those songs that hits harder the second time you hear it. Callander sings like he’s letting you in on something he didn’t plan to share, and the instruments used keep things calm and unflashy. It lands the feeling and lets the literary influences shine, recalling the mystical realms of the fantasy worlds Tolkien created.

J confronts us again with inner demons and a raw intensity, on the track titled The Enemy Within. With its driving bass and urgent drums, it creates a sense of tension. Released as a single on 12^th May 2024, this track shows Callander’s ability to blend a rock sound that is both familiar and fresh. The outlaw space rock label fits again perfectly here, as the song feels like a battle fought on both earth and beyond.

Crossing The Rubicon marks a point of no return, its title and lyrics an historical metaphor and maybe a personal reckoning. The music swells with a cinematic grandeur, guitars soaring over a steady rhythm section that would fit a Julius Caesar biopic. Clever and powerful electric guitar riffs and a roaring solo, the song invites you to practice your own air guitar.

For a storytelling gem, The Ballad of Frosty Jack is weaving a tale as vivid as any folk legend. Like all the album’s songs there is the clear vocal style that so many of the 1970’s heroes believed in. Like David Crosby or the emotional pull of Don McLean, lyrics are meant to be heard letter by letter. Then closing deep, rolling bass on Homecoming ends the album on a solid indie-pop-rock note, a gentle landing after the cosmic journey. It is a fitting finale that leaves you both satisfied and yearning for more.

The album art mirrors this journey perfectly, with a surreal, dreamlike image that feels like snapshots from a traveller’s logbook. Callander’s Instagram and YouTube channels extend this visual storytelling. On his channel he dissects and explains his songs with a playful curiosity that invites you behind the scenes of this album. These videos are a treasure trove for fans, offering insights into the creative process and deepening the connection to the music of J Callander.

After seven years in the making, Shadows In The Shade stands as a testament to Callander’s dedication and artistic evolution. It is a record that honours Aotearoa’s rugged South Island and pushes Jeremy’s long history with the ‘Dunedin sound’. Whether you are a longtime fan or new to his work, this album promises a rich, immersive experience that is as thought-provoking as it is sonically satisfying.

Available through his own website, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, and with all singles released on YouTube, this album is well within reach. Adding a CD or digital copy to your collection takes you on a journey through shadows and light, myth and reality, earth and space, rock and country.