Me and Cassity

Me and Cassity is actually a German musician named Dirk Darmstaedter, but you wouldn't know that to listen to his first studio album, Appearances. This recording is steeped in Americana; he even name checks Townes Van Zandt in the infectious "Bring it On." On top of this, Darmstaedter lists Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and the Lovin' Spoonful as influences. For the record, which was recorded live in studio (a practice that seems to be burgeoning into a welcome trend in alt-country these days), Darmstaedter recruited Martin Wenk (Arcade Fire, Wilco, Nada Surf) to record horns and Anne de Wolff (Neko Case, Calexico) for the strings. The songs themselves are a collection of smart and mature pop numbers layered with harmonies, finger snaps, handclaps, strings and horns. Appearances is a solid album. Who knew quality pop Americana was coming out of Germany?