A swirling flourish of strings whirls around a noir cocktail of stately country elegance of classic piano and brass flourishes, as a voice emerges from the stale smoke and dim lights equally trenchant resolve and raw ache. Daniel Romano, slightly behind the beat, offers a chivalrous promise of avengement to the man who broke a tender heart on “I’m Gonna Teach You.” Like Romano, who exists in many realms at once, Askin’ is an album beyond constraints. Not quite Americana, country, folk, songwriter or pop, it is pieces of each, but ultimately the work of a singular mind. To peer inside, all you have to do is listen.