Johnny Marr: Call the Comet review – Still a solid melody maker

Despite the media-baiting symbiotic relationship between him and his former Smiths bandmate Morrissey, Johnny Marr is now the saviour of that band's once unrivalled status rather than the guitar genius who couldn't cut it as an arch wit during interviews.

Marr, of course, has always had what Morrissey could never grasp: an ability to create instantaneous melodies that linger long after you hear them. A case in point is Hi Hello, which is ingrained with utterly distinctive guitar chords and memorable refrains.

Another example of Marr's fluent skill set is Actor Attractor, which comes across as a textbook lesson in how to fuse surging guitar with a funk foundation that could come in very useful as the next working chapter of New Order.

Perhaps the cherry, however, of this sprightly album (which is not-too convincingly based around an AI concept), is Walk into the Sea, a striking, morose track whose instrumental intro of almost two minutes is followed by guitar-bedded spoken word.

Less Smiths and more Marr, Call the Comet reveals a solid, occasionally exhilarating side to a man whose worth has been overshadowed for far too long.