The Dead Tongues: A New Chapter Ryan Gustafson, the visionary behind The Dead Tongues, has solidified his place as one of modern folk’s most distinctive voices. His albums, including Dust, Unsung Passage, and Desert, are celebrated for their idiosyncratic and spectral nature, coupled with their undeniable hooks. + Lou Hazel was born in the town of Olean, New York to a family of northeastern wiseacres.