Jon De Rosa wears many different hats: Dead Leaves Rising, Aarctika. But as his most recent incarnation, Pale Horse and Rider, we are treated to a melting and woozy selection of woeful, country-tinged ballads. This sparse collection was mostly recorded in a church in Duluth, with Low’s Alan Sparkman at the helm. We are lulled into a thought provoking insight into the people, the places and the events that define De Rosa. This stark album relies intently on the richness of a voice, accompanied only by the bare essentials -- namely an acoustic guitar. However, De Rosa has incorporated guest appearances from Mark Gartman, Nathan Amundson of Rivulets, Molly Sheridan and Charles Newman from Flare. They play a variety of roles from banjo to pedal steel, vocals to piano -- but never let Jon De Rosa become over shadowed. The themes of lost love, loneliness and the usefulness of alcohol in clarifying the thought process are all touched upon. But what strikes you the most is the vast expanse of space contained within these songs. Recording techniques aside, you are beckoned to follow the haunting image of this lone horse and rider into his musical landscape.