When Johnny Angel gets into something, he immerses himself so deeply he might as well be a Luddite off the grid. The mystique of the Old West piqued his curiosity so much last summer he devoured book after book until he felt versed enough to dedicate a project paying homage to the American Cowboy and the Western way of life. That led to writing the lolloping, cowboy-themed title track that features simulated horse hoof clopping and layered, lush vocals reminiscent of the legendary Sons of the Pioneers, replete with a crack band led by Angel’s lonesome vocals. It’s the type of classic cowboy song that could wend its way into the repertoires of other Stetson-hatted performers.

Along with that, Angel wrote three vivid spoken word narratives depicting elements of the West: the life of a cowboy, a gunfight, and a spooked cattle stampede. The vignettes are creatively written with Angel sporting colorful phrases like “fueled by chuck wagon coffee” and “Whiskey Wranglers.” He engaged with the Aiva Orchestra of Luxembourg, which used AI technology to generate the cinematic orchestral accompaniment. Once Aiva’s raw tracks fulfilled Angel’s vision, various deep-throated narrators recited his stories on par with a professionally produced PBS documentary.

While this collection of music and narrations hint there could be an overarching theme telling a story governed by a sequence of events, they’re really not intended as such. Nonetheless, they’re quality, personal songs from Angel’s songbook, like “Long Gone,” a lively, fiddle-driven western swinger with a Tex-Mex flair. “Fallen Angel” reaches its celestial zenith with the pivotal phrase “Fallen Angel” sung in Hebrew as “Bene Elohim.” On the relaxed but confessional “Feel Like Letting Go,” Angel reveals deep feelings and the cathartic path forward. His performance is passionate enough that it’s easy to envision a protagonist on the big screen ruminating through the possibilities before settling on the solution. 

There’s even a moralistic bent, which is a clue as to why some of this is deeper than your average Western recording. “Pride Before the Fall” advises against excessive overconfidence and arrogance that could lead to a crashing downfall and a residency at rock bottom. It’s also an indication that Angel crafts unusual lyrics. Where else would you hear crossword puzzle words like “hubris” in a Western song?

Engineer/multi-instrumentalist Adam Hains refused to keep the meter ticking like a Manhattan cab driver but allowed the project to flow organically so the best art could be made without financial pressure. The arrangements are thick with splendid soloists darting in and out, so there is always something fresh to catch your ear.

To thank everyone who worked on the project, even the lady who taught him to ride a horse and not fall off like a sloppy drunk, Angel assembled a glossy 29-page, 8×11.5 companion magazine, the kind you’d get at a society play, with photos and bios of everyone involved. Song lyrics are included and most have guitar chords, should you desire to strum along. Though the mag and narrations could be considered artistic lagniappe, Angel’s carefully-crafted songs are where the rubber truly meets the road. Johnny Angel Helldorado

Johnny Angel Helldorado