Age Old Hunger

You can hear the ancient tug of gospel music in Christopher Denny's tunes: the ascending melodies, the swaying tempos, the occasional bit of old-school organ. After all, he first learned to sing in church. Yet this is hardly holy music: Infused with a world-weariness that somehow never curdles into cynicism, Denny's songs work like dispatches from the dark side.

While there's no question that Age Old Hunger, his 11-song debut, showcases a strong new songwriting talent, there's something you'll notice before Denny's way with words: his voice. Singing in a high, trembling and almost pained tone, his voice has a timeless quality that sounds as if he could have been transplanted from another era.