8:33a.m. 26th June 2008

| By Mark Chapman

Album: Half Seas over

Artist: Jeff Lang

Release: ABC Root Music / Warner

Rating: 3.5/5

It doesn't get more honest than a guy and a guitar.

Or rather, a guy with a variety of guitars and things with strings, and plenty dark tales to tell.

Jeff Lang is that guy.

On Half Seas Over - his first solo release since 2005 - the self-described purveyor of 'disturbed folk music, a tangled roots music stew' presents 12 minimal, mostly acoustic tracks, accompanied by bass player Grant Cummerford.

The mix of originals and folk standards is more a mix of pictures and stories more than plain old songs as such, with Jeff Lang's obvious attention to detail shining through in every respect.

Between the subtle lyrical lines like "my eyes look through her to the offer of her charms" and the masterful slide and string work of the man, Half Seas Over has surely got to be a folk fan's dream release.

This one's a keeper.

Jeff will be performing at Joes Waterhole in Eumundi - catch him live