Langhorne Slim a.k.a. Sean Scolnick is a restless raucous purveyor of acoustic folksy-bluegrass-punk with a larger than life persona seeming to be a mix of the rough cool of Tom Waits, Joe Strummer, and Woody Guthrie - whilst being still a couple of years off thirty. The 'Langhorne' moniker refers to his Pennsylvanian place of birth, and his energetic low-fi, almost skiffle, sub-three minute nuggets are often given an intelligent musical twist courtesy of his degree from the Conservatory of Music no less at Purchase College, New York. There's a bowed double-bass riff that drives 'Spinning Compass', a barping trombone on 'Rebel Side Of Heaven' and judicious Hammond organ, ragtime piano, and accordion flavouring elsewhere. Only on 'Hello Sunshine' does Slim wield an electric guitar, otherwise strumming like a dervish, or like a dervish with an acoustic guitar anyway. His cracked lived-in voice stands out above all the homespun old-time hell-raising and enhances lyrics otherwise not particularly deep with a dusting of world-weary wisdom.

At his barnstorming best on scorching tambourine workout 'She's Gone', kind-of-less-uptight-Dylanesque 'Tipping Point', and the joyous unwinding at the close of the slower paced 'Colette', the more thoughtful numbers are not quite as successful at keeping the attention. However, 'Worries' bumbles cheerily along with a smile, and the best of such efforts 'Hummingbird' is craftily saved until last. Regular backing band the War Eagles consist of just upright bass and drums, so expect energy and charisma to compensate for missing arrangements at live shows. Fortunately Langhorne Slim has got both those qualities in spades and reports are universally positive, so if he comes a-stomping and a-hollering near you then get along. Greatness may be lurking around the corner. 71%[Download Langhorne Slim]Links Langhorne Slim [myspace]