ONCE MEMORABLY described as a ‘chain smoking corpse’ Mark Lanegan has so far outwitted the reaper to produce some of the most authentically dark and compelling rock music of the last decade, sung by arguably the vocalist of his generation.

After 2012’s Blues Funeral upped the volume these 2013 releases showed his other facets. Black Pudding, with multi instrumentalist Duke Garwood should have a sticker warning against playing this bleak and monochrome record in January.

Only Cold Molly lifts its head above the comforting gloom, so making this a grower for the cognoscenti only. By contrast, Imitations strikes out into crooner territory on an album of well-known covers. A mixed blessing.

Lanegan is always worth hearing, but unlike 1999’s I’ll Take Care Of You, here he covers rather than inhabits the material. You Only Live Twice is transformed but much of the rest flatters to deceive – beautifully sung as always, but curiously bloodless.