Return of The Loneliest Cowboys

It is hard to believe that Canada's Cowboy Junkies are well into their 32nd year.

Throughout, their unwavering line up has released consistently high-quality music. 'All That Reckoning' is not about to buck the trend and delivers more of their hallmark plangency in all its understated, elemental majesty.

There is never an extraneous note nor a hint of grandstanding, or look-at-me performance, just a will to serve the song and provide a bed for Margo Timmin's vocals, delivered generally with all the intimacy of a whispered entreaty from a lover.

To say they put the elan into melancholy might be a contradiction in terms but they're no strangers to the wrong-footings of life. It's not all sad and introspective musings. On 'Sing Me A Song' the pace lifts as Margo implores the listener to 'sing me a song of joy' as the band grind out a menacing low-slung riff. It's on 'All That Reckoning Part 2' that they come closest to repeating the anguished longing of 'Misguided Angel', from their breakthrough sophomore effort The Trinity Session.

Last but not least, like all the best country songs, 'The Possessed' gives the Devil his due. Sparsely backed by a lone mandolin, a tale of an encounter with old Nick is recounted with relish. 'No dickering over details, no contract signed in blood': just a gentle but emphatic reminder that 'you are mine'.

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