A debut album of acoustic folk-rock worth every minute of listening is a rare thing in Hong Kong. Yet here comes Double-Life Taxi, a darkly fetching effort from UK-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Neil Cousin issued by local indie label Red Mountain Records.

Credit producer Daniel Puzny, who doubles as Red Mountain’s president, for bringing Cousin to Hong Kong’s attention. Scouring MySpace for quality artists, Puzny and a colleague discovered Cousin and cold-pitched him to sign. Assured he would be able to retain his creative integrity and make his “dream album,” Cousin allowed Puzny to get cracking.

The result is a thoughtfully arranged and quietly confident work. Cousin’s gravelly warble resembles that of his hero Lou Reed, but the album’s melancholy-tinged tracks, enveloped in lush warm reverb and other inspired effects, capture a unique searching spirit.

One song, Mermaid, about a person examining myth, shows off Cousin’s finely picked guitar, and floats forward despite the lightest of percussion. A ukulele features on the jaunty jam-inducing Caravan, with Hong Kong-basedsaxophonist Zane Massey delivering snappy play. In every way, Double-Life Taxi offers a lean and expressive sound we haven’t heard in too long.

Plans are underway for the artist to return this summer for his first live performance in the city. Here’s hoping Cousin and Puzny re-team for more albums; their Double-Life Taxi is well worth the ride.

Bong Miquiabas