Jeff Black – Tin Lily

Continuing the process of lyrical compression and abstraction that has distinguished his releases to date, Jeff Black is back with a strong fourth offering. Those who treasured his 1998 debut Birmingham Road for its narrative tracks may find Tin Lily a disappointment because the disc is short on traditional storytelling. But its long on evocation, good melodies and striking arrangements, as well as the conversational tone that makes Blacks work so accessible. A tidy blend of ballads and rockers, Tin Lily also balances its moments of questioning and despair with visions of grace and the conviction that human connections can transcend temporal woes. Black, who accompanies himself on guitar, keyboards and harmonica, includes Sam Bush, Will Kimbrough and Kate Campbell among his musicians and backup vocalists.