The skimpy biog for New York-based McCombs reveals diverse allegiances with Will Oldham, the Anti-Folk movement led by The Moldy Peaches, and art-metallers Oxes. Of these, the Oldham connection is most revealing, if only because both have clearly studied the odd Dylan record. McCombs isn’t quite that predictable, though, since his singer-songwriter routine often fuses with pleasingly lethargic psychedelia, especially on “Opium Flower”. He also has a nice trick of being at once plaintive and undemonstrative, so that this debut mini album resembles Galaxie 500 as much as all the usual alt.folk touchstones.
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