The new album from David Nance, Staunch Honey, straddles a few genres, but rides a blues-inspired vibe through to success. It's a moody record, but one which charms in spots, and allows Nance to expand his approach as a singer. Out on Friday via Trouble in Mind Records, Staunch Honey is one of this week's modest gems.
"The Merchandise" works up a nicely clattering energy like Nick Cave's early compositions, sort of, while "My Love, the Dark and I" is twang-y and more assured. "When the Covers Come Off" and "Sell It All Night" follow the foundational blues-inspired riffs to some interesting places. There are bits here that recall The Gun Club, but David Nance seems more comfortable using these familiar forms to achieve his own ends. Elsewhere, "Black Mustang" lets the keyboards do the heavy lifting of giving the composition some real zest, while "If The Truth Ever Shows Up" momentarily gets caught up in some fuzzy guitar noises. Nance sometimes gets lost in the style he's pursuing here on Staunch Honey, but, overall, the record is a fairly concise one, and far better than it probably should be given how much the artist leans on his own influences.
Staunch Honey is out on Friday via Trouble in Mind Records.
[Photo: Anna Nance]