Sunday At Devil Dirt

Sunday At Devil Dirt is the second collaboration between Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan and it proves that the first time was no fluke — these two have an undeniable chemistry. Revisiting the winning template they created on Ballad of the Broken Seas, the album touches on various aspects of Americana including 12-bar blues, melancholy folk, and spooky country. As with the first album, all of these songs were written and produced by Campbell, once of Belle & Sebastian, and she again does an impressive job of creating an atmosphere ideally suited to Lanegan’s husky baritone. This is definitely Campbell’s show but she’s chosen an ideal musical partner, and her talent as a song arranger is particularly impressive. Lanegan, the former frontman for the Screaming Trees, has become something of a master collaborator over the past decade, and he nails his role with an excellent vocal performance throughout. But what really stand out are the simmering, sultry harmonies they produce together (check out “Come on Over (Turn Me On)” for proof). Sunday At Devil Dirt achieves a lushness and subtle beauty that goes well beyond their stark vocal differences.