Robert Francis – Before Nightfall

With a rich musical heritage – including family ties with Ry Cooder - cindering good looks, and a barrow-load of brooding introspection, American raconteur Robert Francis seems purpose built to woo those who favour the middle-America alt-country of such mainstays as Ryan Adams. Though whilst Francis may appear to embody the more rustic music mogul’s fantasy-find with his potent blend of looks and hooks – look no further than the iTunes promoted, chart-bothering pop of single, Junebug – sophomore release Before Nightfall has rather more to offer.

The dusky diversions of opener, Darkness – all twinkling pianos and a midnight march of gentle percussion – make for a tender start, before leading on to the Springsteenian road trip-rock of Keep on Running, and later in, the rounded maturity of Mescaline’s woozy country-noir. Yes, there are moments when Francis’s output is overtly commercialised, though looking between these promoted moments, there are sure signs of a classic American songwriter in the making. [Paul Neeson]