Giant Sand — proVISIONS

Closing summer in a stark, sun-scorched fashion, Howe Gelb's latest Giant Sand opus keeps a careful eye on doors he opened long ago. proVISIONS will hardly be a revelation to longtime Gelb supporters, but it's still a worthy addition to the legacy for those who are predisposed to this sort of thing. Gelb has some famous friends helping out, as per usual — in this instance, Neko Case, M. Ward and ex-Belle And Sebastian vocalist Isobel Campbell. The result is a beautiful, bountiful disc that sounds like a full band effort and yet retains Gelb's singular vision and signature sound. Check out "Without a Word" for best collaborative outcomes and "Pitch & Sway" to hear the man unadorned, as proVISIONS works on both levels.

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