Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny

In theory, Beth Jeans Houghton should be irresistible. The 21-year-old singer was plucked from the crowd at a musical festival by Devendra Banhart to perform with him, and she's been making her own psychedelic folk music ever since. Her love of the likes of John Martyn and Frank Zappa should translate into something unique on her debut album, "Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose." Houghton is a talent, make no mistake; her voice has that operatic quality when she lets loose, although it's just as compelling when just a whisper. The songs have richness and complexity that verge on being overwhelming, in the same way that Tune-Yards or Joanna Newsom can be. That also means it isn't the most immediate record. There are some upbeat moments that jump out upon first listen, like "Atlas" and "Lilliput," but the substance of the record is the quiet, folkier tunes, and this is also where Houghton excels. Plus, everything is sprinkled with a dusting of weirdness that ensures that "Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose" is never, ever dull, even if it isn't quite the genre-mashing good time it could have been.