Daniel Romano: If I’ve Only One Time Askin’ | Album Review

Drenched in tear-shaped guilt, giddy bouffant arrangements and deliciously retro references, this weird but winning homage to classic rhinestone country seduces and dazzles.

Daniel Romano is a Canadian singer with an easy baritone who clearly has a thing for 1960s/70s Nashville.

The 11 tracks are washed in pedal steel, sweeping strings, tinkling keys and chunky guitar notes and each offers an oddball coda before segueing into the next song.

This novel device helps unify the album, which though sprinkled with influences, is very much Romano’s own work.

His musical quirkiness and knowledge is evident throughout and his lyrics are pared to a hard-bitten essence. When his partner asks in Old Fires Die why their marriage is in danger the narrator replies: "Cause I get more happiness from a bottle and more love from a stranger".

Happily glum.