The Hour

An award-winning producer, indefatigable musician, songwriter and maestro of all things strung and fretted, Steve Dawson proves yet again to be every bit as accomplished in front of the boards as behind with Waiting for the Lights to Come Up, a treasure trove of dusty, weathered roots gold, rendered in both tough (check out the feverish, frightful slow-burn growl of Fire Somewhere) and tender tones. The first of two records he has on tap for the coming year, Waiting rings like a contemporary nod to Ry Cooder's '76 effort Chicken Skin Music. Its roaming repertoire - a flickering fusion of languid folk, country and blues flecked with the odd hint of Hot Club Django spice, Hawaiian heat and gospel sweat - crossing borders and jumping eras with unshakable aplomb and purpose, whether taking on Dylan's Walking Down the Line or Jack Yellen and Milton Ager's swinging, roaring '20s Prohibition Era nugget, Hard to Get Gertie.

- Steve Baylin