Steve Gunn: Time Off (Paradise of Bachelors/Southbound)

In the late Sixties/early Seventies there were many acoustic/electric guitarists working the territory between British folk, Indian raga tuning and Middle Eastern sounds.

But there are fewer today, which makes this album by New York-based Philadelphian Gunn – who is in Kurt Vile's touring band – quite refreshing. And he brings a slightly trip-folk style to his dreamy vocals (the album title is telling) on six songs which languidly stretch past the five minute mark (the closer Trailways Ramble a full nine minute journey).

Gunn clearly understands the trance music of Morocco but brings that groove into a world of folk-blues.

With his small band (just bass and drums, guests on cello, flute and piano in places) he delivers a coherent but deliberately lowkey collection which should resonate as much with old Bert Jansch, Davey Graham and J.J. Cale followers as a few Fleet Foxes and maybe even Mumford fans.

He's also a story teller, although you can become so seduced by the meditative drone, interplay of acoustic guitars and percussion, and allusions to swamp blues that you might lose the plot.

He never does however . . .  and that final track will sweep you away to somewhere exotic and warm.