Dan Allen

The latest from electrified proto-folkie Dan Allen is a throwback to local recordings that were commonplace during the bad old days, before technology improved to the degree that an album made in a bedroom could sound almost as good as one cut in a studio. The production on Here is exceedingly raw, forcing the disc’s spinner to tune out the sludgy drums and other mix issues in order to concentrate on the essence of the material and performances. Fortunately, primitivism is Allen’s game. His voice is plain and fairly monotonal, but he uses it for creepy dramatic effect on the occasionally atonal “Dark City Sketches” and “Lakeside Blues,” one of several tracks featuring veteran guitar eccentric Mike Serviolo. Easy listening, it’s not — but it isn’t supposed to be.