On his second solo release, Dax Riggs proves that, despite the popularity of his sludgy '90s project Acid Bath, he prefers the sound of his swampy indie outfit Deadboy & the Elephantmen, which was known for its captivating covers of material by fellow doleful dudes Nick Cave, Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen.
A ballad called "Like Moonlight" presents Riggs as the perfect link between Cohen and Echo & the Bunnymen's Ian McCulloch, while the title track will appeal to fans of both Chris Cornell and Jim Morrison. Meanwhile, "Heartbreak Hotel" takes a legendary line from the Elvis Presley tune of the same name - "I'm so lonely I could die" - and drowns it in bayou blues. The result sounds like a rock 'n' roll vision Portishead and the White Stripes might cook up in a New Orleans speakeasy. If you can stomach this much darkness, it's an album worth checking out.
