Cass McCombs – Mangy Love (2xLP)

Californian singer/songwriter Cass McCombs doesn't make a fuss about himself, nor does he say much about his music. What says a lot about the introverted guitarist, however, is the lasting approval he receives from other artists, including his colleagues from War on Drugs, Vampire Weekend, Phish and My Morning Jacket.

It is not for nothing that McCombs is considered the "songwriter's songwriter" - at the latest since his 2011 masterpiece "Wit's End", McCombs has been one of the spearheads of his industry with his nomadic mix of neo-folk, alternative, country, Americana and spoken word. On "Mangy Love", his debut for the Anti label, he now also incorporates experimental soul elements, twisted psychedelia and gritty rock. McComb's eighth studio album thus reflects the sound he presents on stage better than ever before.

Compared to its predecessor, the double album "Big Wheel And Others", "Mangy Love" is darker, while the spoken vocals have been given more weight. Numerous guest appearances, including from Angel Olsen and Blake Mills, round off the Rob Schnapf-produced work perfectly.