Howe Gelb - 'Sno Angel Like You

Sno Angel Like You', is, as Howe Gelb himself puts it, his own "sonic mess" combined with the "dizzying surge of gospel". Recorded a few years ago, Gelb mixes his version of twang with a Canadian Gospel Choir (because Canadians, are, you know, so gospel). The record comes off as a charmer, one you're likely to eat up with a really big spoon and also maybe a smaller one - to get all the little bits out of the corner. Gelb's overly saturated and slightly pushed southern drawl does shine cutely/sweetly next to the warm choir cheer. The contrast of the two fills the songs with a semi-unique and nifty energy, adding a totally new slant to three of Gelb's older Giant Sand songs as well. However, watch out for aftertaste, since the album's chocolate percentage starts to get all Cadbury-ish after a few servings. [David Winton]