Once upon a time – well, a couple of years ago – I trekked all the way down the coast to locate a hotel where a certain Jon Gomm was playing. I did this based on a recommendation that he was a guitarist that you had, just had, to see.
Jon Gomm was not an impressive sight as he shuffled on to the small stage with just a beat up acoustic guitar for company. Then he started playing and it was soon evident how that guitar had got so beaten up. Using it for percussion whilst elegantly extracting all kinds of remarkable sounds might well have shortened that guitar's service life but who could argue that such a sacrifice was anything but necessary to express such sonic sorcery.
"Passionflower" is one of a series of self released series of singles that properly demonstrate the magic that such talent can bring. Jon Gomm rolls with the likes of Martin Simpson in his easy going presentation but you have to listen to properly appreciate the remarkable complexity of his guitar playing. Remember that this is not studio fakery. No, this is the result of real, organic talent and I don't often get to say that these days.