The moody, urgent throb of "Jim," the opening track on Jean-Louis Murat's Mustango, is a good example of the typical quality of Murat's work. Utilizing the beautiful voices of Lovage vocalist Jennifer Charles and the incredible guitar work of Tom Waits collaborator Marc Ribot, this is a wonderful effort that brings to mind the early work of Leonard Cohen. Each song is a brooding treasure, filled with lush arrangements and subtle playing that perfectly complement his material. Fans of this type of dark pop should give this a listen; there are some excellent performances and the language barrier rarely makes a difference. by Bradley Torreano