The Irish duo's previous release, 2012's 'The Passing Of The Night', was the last in a trilogy of records that started with their debut album 'Trails of the Lonely' in 2008.
Since forming in Liverpool in 2007, Oisin Leech and Mark McCausland have opted to record in the States and to collaborate with other artists like Richard Hawley and Brendan Benson.
Now they have returned to Liverpool's Parr Street Studios to record the first of a new trilogy with Bill Ryder-Jones, former guitarist of The Coral.
"This new album steps away from the strictly folk/Americana thing and opens up a new door for us" says Leech.
Not that they are striving for anything particularly innovative or experimental. They may have varied musical influences ranging from Ennio Morricone to Beck and from Chuck Berry to Nick Cave but the common denominator for all these artists being their ability to write tunes that stand the test of time.
The opening tune, Spanish Reprise, one of three instrumentals, is designed to prepare you for something different but ultimately it is their solid and dependable approach to song writing that defines the record.
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With crisp acoustic guitar duelling and Everly Brothers style harmonies their story songs follow familiar topics rooted in solid moral foundations. These themes include the absurdity of war (Soldier's Song) , poverty (Poor Poor Man) and wealth (Gold And Silver).
It may feel like a fresh chapter for them but the sound is so reassuringly traditional that this album more accurately represents a slight detour rather than a radical change of direction.
The Lost Brothers' website
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