Freddy Trujillo: I Never Threw a Shadow At It (digital outlets)

The name of this Portland-based Californian might not be familiar but the bands he plays bass in – the Delines and Richmond Fontaine – means we should be interested in this, his fourth album which features various Delines.

Along a similar axis as those bands, Trujillo sings of his Chicano background (I Didn't Cross the Border, The Border Crossed Me), experiences of Chicano families (World There Haunting Me with searing guitar) and the title track is a personal experience with LA cops who racially profiled him and were immediately suspicious of him when he reported his car stolen.

I Didn't Cross the Border, The Border Crossed Me

The over-arching theme here is of being an outsider in the country he was born, told through personal stories or narratives (Mexican Hearts).

There is more sadness than anger at the heart of some of these originals also, which come with that distinctive colouring of violin (Windows) and horns. Julio Jones is a guitar instrumental located somewhere between the Arizona desert and Californian surf-rock, more Shadows than Ventures.

Trujillo doesn't have the strongest or most distinctive voice, but it is the sincerity of these songs which get the album over the line.

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You can hear this album at Spotify here.