The Waifs - Temptation

The Waifs are back, once again to assert themselves as masters of folk and country. Temptation is a true slow-burner, its stripped back production giving rise to perhaps the warmest, most intimate album the group have released.

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From the bluesy opener I Learn The Hard Way, The Waifs find a grove early on with Temptation and dig in. Unfraid on previous albums to branch out from their rootsy beginnings, Temptation seems to take a turn back in the other direction. Navigating their comfort zone with sincerity, it's an album with its feet firmly on the ground in a comfortable pair of shoes.

Josh Cunningham's recent religious conversion is proclaimed in Moses And The Lamb and the album's haunting title track, with the former evoking the driving bassline of Tom Waits' "Way Down In The Hole". It's hearing The Waifs take influences and letting them drift casually to the surface amongst something unique that shows The Waifs as not just legends of the stylised genre known as folk, but also as curators of the age-old folk traditions of songwriting. It's in this vein that "Beautiful Night" and "Falling" are unique tracks and highlights of Temptation, both with a tip-of-the-hat to Bob Dylan.

Capping the album off is the heartwarming Hank Williamsy album closer Goodbye. Guitars, mandolin and harmonica create the mood, with killer ukulele and guitar solos thrown in for good measure.

Aside from his two gospel jaunts -- somewhat at oods withthe easygoing acoustic fare provided by the rest of the album -- Josh Cunningham doesn't appear on lead vocal duties like he often has in the past with his trademark laconic vocals. Instead Temptation steadily bounces between the soulful dexterity of Vikki Thorn's voice and Donna Simpson's infectious charm. The three have largely penned their own tracks; all fitting the mood of the album like three points of view in a conversation.

Six albums in -- with marriages, breakups, children and many, many thousands of miles on the road in the meantime -- The Waifs may well have seen it all. Temptation is a cosy testament to that.