Since quitting ’90s US indie sirens Tsunami, Toomey has emerged as a solo artist of some repute. Tempting carries the same strain of smoky weariness and subtly-layered elasticity as 2001’s self-penned Antidote, explaining why she gravitated towards Bruno in the first place. Calexico supply the uncluttered back-up (“Your Inarticulate Boyfriend” is a typically barrio’d-up Burns/Convertino stakeout), allowing Toomey’s torchy delivery to infuse gems like “Empty Sentiment” and “Masonic Eye” with all the noir ambience of a Michael Curtiz movie.
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