Dan Korn – Dustbowl EP

Opening with the playful title track - well as playful as one can expect from a supposed tribute to the doomed lives of the Joad family in John Steinbeck’s classic novel, The Grapes of Wrath – complete with muted trumpet solo, walking double-bass and bluesy harmonica, on another day this could goad the most repulsive of reactions but Dan Korn’s youthful croon and pronounced vocals notch it above mere pastiche 40s jazz gloop.

However the seeds are sewn and the EP continues with a smattering of sweet compositions, performed with great finesse that could appeal to a mainstream audience, but there’s little originality or sparkling creativity on offer. Dressing like a posh Wurzel doesn’t help – although it hasn’t harmed Mumford & Sons – but Dan Korn’s debut EP is too smooth and a little too assiduous to really get the pulse racing.