Comprising of husband and wife duo Brett and Rennie Sparks, the Handsome Familyhave steadily become one of the most critically revered American bands of thepast two decades.Hailed as"The Beatles of the folk world" by no less a luminary than GreilMarcus, ilderness? the duo tenth album since their 1994 debut LP dessa?continues their voyage into Southern Gothic-inspired folk and country terrain.Principal architects (along with Kurt Wagner of Lambchop) of what has becomeknown as alt. country, the pair songs find their centre of gravity aroundRennie exquisitely detailed lyrics and Brett deep, sonorous voice.Billed as"wild animals, tall tales and dark stories from American history", thetracks, backed by largely acoustic instrumentation, create the impression ofmini-novellas set to music, each one a vignette soaked in the influence of myth,folklore and sepia-toned local history.Its titles all derived from animal names, opening cut lies?tackles natureadaptation to encroaching human development, detailing the arrival of a Wal-Martstore as birds adapt to nest in the building roof.rogs', which comes second, shows off the couple vocal interplay, and is anepically slow lament that pads along softly on slide guitars and sparsedrumbeats, thrown into sharp contrast by the piano-led chug of ctopus? themost Beatles-esque cut and the poppiest moment of the set.As proof of how far the couple have pushed the alt. country template, twotracks, the weeping lap steel of wls?and pider? shot through with mournfulfiddle are the most straightforward country-inspired pieces on the collection,demonstrating how wide-ranging the sonic ground covered by the Handsome Familyis.The dusky atmosphere of 'Caterpillars', led by refracted, liquid guitar lines ,is one of richest narratives on an album stuffed full of them while low Worm?led by Brett resonant vocal evokes the snowy desolation of Edith Whartonthan Frome?izard? a deceptively upbeat tale of a small-town gone bad vies withoodpecker?as the highpoints of the set, the latter an Appalachian duetrecouting the tale of the 1896 isconsin Window Smasher?Mary Sweeney, whoafter 100 arrests for destroying panes of glass was committed to the stateasylum.Towards the close, the slightly inconsequential ulls?backed with Indianpercussion, meanders past pleasantly enough, while concluding track ildebeest?recounts the tragically early death of he Father of American Music?StephFoster in 1864.Patiently ploughing their own furrow over the past two decades to growingacclaim, ilderness?should deservedly scoop the same critical plaudits asprevious amily outings, the latest entry into the band extensive canon ofoutstanding work.