(Thrill Jockey)

www.thrilljockey.com

Angela Desveaux's 2006 debut, Wandering Eyes, was a left-field surprise from practically every angle: a surprisingly mature twang rock record from a veritable unknown released on a label best known for the adventurous fare (Freakwater notwithstanding) of its veteran roster. But Desveaux was able to imbue straightforward country with the barren loneliness of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, where she grew up, adding a neat twist to her twangy cocktail.

The Mighty Ship finds Desveaux tweaking that formula with a few more rock ‘n' roll touches, and taking cues from Chrissie Hynde as well as Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch. The Sadies-like Spaghetti-western guitar intro and bridge make disc-ender "For Design" the most successful of these rock forays, whereas "Sure Enough" and "Hide From You" may dial up the tempo with stronger rock beats but fall slightly flat compared to the country numbers. "The Way You Stay," featuring vintage Clarence White-like fills from Wooden Star's Mike Feuerstack, and the fiddle-accented slow shuffle "Joining Another," best highlight Desveaux's strengths as a country songstress.

But it's the title track that suggests the way forward; with its trumpet-fare choruses, rich baritone guitar runs and plangent pedal steel, Desveaux's tale of the death-at-sea of her grandmother's first husband is first-rate country story-telling that resonates long after the song runs its course.

Standout Tracks: "The Mighty Ship," "For Design" JOHN SCHACHT