Album Review: Iron & Wine - Ghost On Ghost

The change has been as gradual as it's been unrelenting, but it's incredible how far the muse of Iron And Wine – the performing moniker of South Carolinian beardy Sam Beam – has shifted in the decade since the brilliance of his whispered alt-folk debut The Creek Drank The Cradle first introduced him back in 2002. He's now released five albums (plus 2005's joint EP with Calexico) and each has signalled a subtle shift into more dynamic territory, broadening his sonic palette considerably in the process without any of the shifts being jarring in and of themselves.

Accordingly, new effort Ghost On Ghost is a completely different beast to its predecessors but still feels like a natural extension of the Iron And Wine oeuvre. Beam's voice is placed prominently in the mix and shadowed by lovely female harmonics throughout (courtesy of Josette Newsome and Carla Cook) and this, along with the proud horn section and occasional strings, adds a distinct '60s soul inflection to proceedings, occasionally drifting into '70s classic rock territory. The instrumentation is lush and full throughout, even when divergent in tone and feel. It's still a laidback affair – more languid than urgent – and highlights reflect this; the cruisy beauty of The Desert Babbler, the quiet and reflective Joy and the stripped-back charm of Winter Prayers all leading the way.

There's some relative mishaps as Beam quests for his 'new sound' – the jazz-infused Lovers' Revolution is more miss than hit – and it's far from his most cohesive effort, but full marks for ambition. It still seems like Beam is searching for something elusive, but he's getting closer every time to realising his inimitable vision.