Hamburg, Germany-based singer/songwriter Dirk Darmstaedter (born in New Jersey!) records under the awkward moniker Me & Cassity with tunes that bridge the gap between folk and alternative pop. At its most humble, his voice evokes The Waterboys' Mike Scott, and his arrangements move smoothly from styles recalling David Gray and Ben Folds to Sondre Lerche and Brendan Benson. As a former member of Germany's The Jeremy Days back in the ‘90s, he's a seasoned veteran who's rooted in the lighter side of that era. "One Step Ahead of Me" features well-trained backing vocals and ornate (but not overpowering) musical backing where guitars, keyboards, and shades of brass coalesce into a bright alterna-pop. "Fred Astaire" furthers the David Gray comparisons with a light gait and pleasing adult-contemporary production. "Dominoes" hints at alt-country. "Stupid World" tucks a banjo into its steadily building orchestration. There's a genteel feel to these tunes that reaches a climax in the sweet sing-along duet "Lovers of Solitude."