Album Review: Cass McCombs Mangy Love

Following a collaborative album with The Skiffle Players earlier this year, Mangy Love is the eighth studio album by Californian folk-pop troubadour Cass McCombs. Combining elements of folk, country and psychedelia, the result is an eclectic jumble, just about held together by McCombs' honeyed vocals.

The album was written between a 'bitter New York winter' and time he spent travelling through Ireland. It opens with a melodic, easy-listening ditty 'Bum Bum Bum', but rapidly veers into the almost grating aggression of 'Rancid Girl'. A standout track is the menacing 'Run Sister Run': inspired by Occupy Wall Street protester Cecily McMillan, it draws attention to gender-discrimination in the judicial system. Here, McCombs' indignant vocals bounce off a jaunty, percussive brass-line - an interesting change from the general smoothness of the rest of the album. 'Opposite House', a suave, jazzy ballad featuring Angel Olsen's shimmering harmonies is also strong.

McCombs drifts effectively between a conversational croon and an aching falsetto, and the addition of harmonies and lap steel give it a genuine sense of warmth. At best it's a rainy day stay-at-home comfort album, or perfect coffee shop music. But it is far from flawless. The weaving between genres is less seamless than it might be, and there is a shortage of the kind of magic moments that stop you in your tracks. Mangy Love has its pleasing cuts. But the overall result is just a bit messy.
_Aug 26//Maija Sofia