Jesse Welles: Pilgrim (digital outlets)

Because we introduced American politico-folk singer Jesse Welles not that long ago – noting he was grounded in Dylan's solo, acoustic protest singer days – we will make this brief, although we do suggest that if you hear nothing else, check out his song War Isn't Murder we posted there.

He's still mining a similar vein – one of the songs here is Grapes of Wrath – but for this new album he's roped in electric guitar, fiddle, pedal steel, bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings (on the cynical Philanthropist) and singer Sierra Ferrell and some orchestration.

So his musical palette has been broadened although his whisky and cigarette-cured vocals remain as raw as before.

He's moved a little from the relentless political position (Will the Computer Love the Sunset), although still comes from the humanist, politically left position. And with a bleak humour, the opener here is We're All Gonna Die and he doesn't sound like he's even convincing himself on Change is in The Air.

Jesse Welles is an important and necessary voice right now and although he borrows heavily he does bring something topical and immediate to the discourse.

Check him out, after you've clocked the earlier War Isn't Murder.

Ah, to hell with it. Here it is again for you.

War Isn't Murder

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here