Broken Land 2

Having debuted as a leader with an elusive 2010 date backed by , followed seven years later by an album of atmospheric avant-soul, opts to extend the desire line he tread with the latter for his third LP. Like 2017's , this sequel of downcast, simmering, and at times elegiac ballads is an outlet for -- known for his work as a tenor saxophonist with , , and many others -- as a writer, singer, and producer. His reeds are heard on only four of the eight songs. They add conciliatory sweetness to the intro of "Burn," inflame "All I Need" with fraught curlicues, and function elsewhere as an underscoring layer. His voice is just as much an instrument. Not often does it project much louder than a murmur or bedside whisper. Still, virtually every lyric with close listening is comprehensible and also powerful. "Girl, is this what you want?," sung in withering falsetto, sounds both aggrieved and empathetic as it opens "Party," a gently rocking number that turns out to be more like a riposte. ("Get yourself together"; "Pour a drink for the only person who cares.") With wounded invocations of "mother, mother, mother" and "father, father, father," the opening "Prayer" unfurls like an intimate gospel twist on 's "Inner City Blues" and 's "Cosmic Slop." sounds like he's trembling when he confesses, "You see my faith is torn/I know you've heard from me before." Even when the words evoke numbed alienation, involve grave terms, or warn without equivocation, and co-producer keep the effect uniformly comforting and a little heady, like a stimulating salve. The material is illustrated with grace and restraint by drummer , keyboardist , and guitarist (those three are on everything), bassists and , trumpeter , and xylophonist . That eye-popping crew stays in service to , who accepts and navigates his personal and interpersonal crises with weary if steadfast control. ~ Andy Kellman