Never Before Our Time

Anyone sorely missing Elliott Smith will welcome the arrival of Gus Black into the wry-coffeehouse-songwriter frame. Though much more confident sounding than Smith, ‘Never Before Our Time’ is a brooding and beautiful tune – though you may have to check the liner notes to double check it’s not Bono singing on the track. In the manner of artists like Ryan Adams, Black is largely inoffensive, and this 3-track is a mixed bag that will appeal both