The Wood Brothers: Ways Not To Lose (Blue Note/EMI)

The trio Medeski, Martin & Wood have been one of the most innovative and consistently interesting jazz (and beyond) bands of the past decade or so.

But here upright bassist/singer from the band Chris Wood teams up with his singing/guitar playing brother Oliver (a dab hand on slide among other things) for an album of lowkey acoustic charm which slips easily between a modern take on rural blues, American folk, and some supple back porch country sounds.

There's a ring-in drummer in a couple of places to hold things down, but mostly these are lazily delivered songs with hints of Dylan and the Band, weekend country-lovin' outfits like the Little Willies (which features Norah Jones and Richard Julian), and oldtime Neil Young in folk mode.

Slightly world weary songs, and a sense that this is the most natural thing in the world for these guys.

A charmer.