John J Presley’s self-titled debut as Shadowman brings together a new trio completed by producer Ben Hillier and broadcaster Danielle Perry. Sparked by a newly acquired 1970s Guild acoustic guitar, the project grew from songwriting sessions that shifted Presley’s focus away from pure texture and towards songcraft. Working at Ben Hillier’s Agricultural Audio studio, the trio quickly developed a fast-moving and instinctive process, with most recordings finished within three takes. Across ten tracks, Shadowman stretches from crushing guitars and post-rock swells to motorik rhythms, layered vocals and cinematic brass arrangements. Contributions from Pete Wareham and Marcus Hamblett add further depth through saxophone and brass textures. The result is a broad and atmospheric record balancing intimacy and scale, with songs touching on everyday characters, modern anxieties and flashes of warmth and light.