I don't exactly sure what folk noir is meant to be but Canadian singer songwriter James Kasper claims to be a practitioner within this genre and Small Town Gods & Devils is his second solo album.
On the album's subtler moments - such as "White Dress" - James Kasper soon entrances your ears and it is fair to draw comparison with the likes of Chris Isaak only with rather more tears and whiskey. "Daisies Everywhere" turns out to be a pretty decent death song and, indeed, every album like this should have a death song. If you're going to look inside yourself for inspiration then you've got to look at where you will stop. Our Mr Kasper does good death songs. I have reservations about the production, however, with things like the awkward rap moment on "Drift and Fade" providing a jarring note.
All things having been considered, there is much to enjoy on this album not least of which is James Kasper's warm, melancholic voice but it also has to be said that the production and arrangements are sometimes unsympathetic and detrimental to the songs. Small Town Gods & Devils is still a good album and I'm sure there will be another to look forward to.
Available from CD Baby.