This duo provides exactly what it promises. Ten duets that are mostly acoustic, but not folk. Rather, these songs are built on classic country bones and then performed as starkly as possible. While both Koch and O'Connor clearly have the pipes to belt, these are generally tender and introspective.

Libby Koch & Michael O'Connor Gulf Coast Duets (self-released)

More impressively, most of these songs are originals. Only Guy Clark's "Boats to Build" and Nanci Griffith's "Gulf Coast Highway" are borrowed compositions, and there's a lot of the spare sound of Griffith's early Rounder records here. This album whispers, and at times it's an effort to hear every subdued note. But this intentional setting is the strength of the album.

And yes, a lot of these songs amplify the gulf coast (and the gulf itself), but these aren't straightforward sailing songs or anything like that. They're full of grace, metaphor and intention. And damn if they aren't gorgeous.

It's easy to fall in love with the sound of this album. O'Connor has a deft hand with his guitar, and John Macy adds pedal steel at just the right moments. But don't discount the lyrics (something I'm generally guilty of doing). Duets are vocal conversations, but often the conversation is between a vocal and a guitar as well. This is their first collaboration, and yet the album sounds like a well-worn career set. A tonic for hard times.

Jon Worley