MARK ERELLI AND JEFFREY FOUCAULT

Seven Curses

markerelli.com, jeffreyfoucault.com

Fans of forlorn folk music take note—this low-key summit of two exceptional singer-songwriters is a marriage made in the heartland. Taking on a set made up mostly of murder ballads penned by giants like Bruce Springsteen (“Johnny 99”), Steve Earle (“Ellis Unit 1”) and Neil Young (“Powderfinger”), Erelli and Foucault find a common thread in rustic arrangements and somber reflection. Not surprisingly then, this isn’t exactly an upbeat affair. The combined commitment of these two old-school troubadours bears an intimacy that makes the listener feel like a fly on the wall. Coming on the heels of Erelli’s excellent Little Vigils, released earlier this year, Seven Curses feels like an unexpected blessing.