Distinctively alluring and instantly enduring, Nathaniel Rateliff’s warm and inviting vocals are enough to recommend his debut, In Memory of Loss, but there are other reasons for hitting the repeat button. Using a similar vocal style reminiscent of Dan Mangan, Rateliff poignantly stresses particular syllables greatly enhancing the mood and character of the piece. The effect is mesmerizing leaving the listener hanging on every word.

Rateliff could probably sing about the weather or some other frivolous topic and have the same impact. Thankfully, the beautiful arrangement of his voice and the accompanying harmonies tell stories of sadness, longing, reflection and getting your ass kicked in a bar fight. ‘You Should’ve Seen The Other Guy’ begins with a perfect moment in time capturing the spirit of this record. “When we get out of this fight / You re gonna help me wrap my hands / I’m stitching up my eyes / You know that blood can blind / And them was big old boys / Had fists like cinder and stone / I dodged a blade on a dime / And they was out to cut my throat”. This track, like many on the album, doesn’t have a direct relationship between the mood of the song and tone of the lyrics as the music is soft and folky while our protagonist sings about getting out alive swinging.

As another example, the opening track, ‘Once In A Great While’, has this soft, warm hearted musical landscape juxtaposed with lines like “I’m playing roadie until you find a way back to me / Until you find a way to sue me.”

There are moments when his soft demeanor gives way to a bellow as if calling out to someone far beyond the walls of the pub. While these instances act as exclamation points, Rateliff is at his best when he is not stretching his vocal chords, with perhaps ‘Whimper and Wail’ as an exception where the wailing amounts to a catchy harmonized melody.

Throughout the majority of the album, this Missouri-born, Denver-based troubadour elects to have a community of voices deliver soft harmonies in sync with poetic stresses during musical parts which, at times, have a distant cousin-like relationship to a chorus. What’s more, most of the songs have the potential for a massive build up or a grand finish lending to the classic fade out technique.

Yet, somehow, Rateliff defies the common practice and makes half completed endings sound refreshingly satisfying. The last two tracks attempt a brief crescendo but quickly divert. It’s as if he is teasing a lover and the songs, like the album, end with a hurried and abrupt exit; a kiss goodnight and a walk out the door.

In Memory of Loss has minimal instrumentation bearing a mostly organic and unplugged feel with the odd effect pedal adding a slight edge. Nathaniel Rateliff chooses the folky sounds of a guitar and piano with subtle strings to provide the canvas for his brilliant story lines and warm melodies. Nothing is overused or exaggerated and Rateliff is not looking for cheap and easy reactions, but the triumvirate of great song writing, stunning harmonies and a distinct voice makes this a toasty affair that will keep you warm in the winter…until you actually start hearing the lyrics – at which point, it might be more fitting as a pint raiser.