Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunter (digital outlets)

The country-rockin' Tyler Childers is one of those artists who seems to have gone past most people.

He has six albums behind him and at 34 sounds like he's reached a peak on this willfully wayward album of psychedelic country, narrative country-folk and more, produced by Rick Rubin.

And we should mention he's become engaged by the Krishnas so there's some spiritual depth here too, and influences from gospel organ and choir on the lyrically compelling Tirtha Yatra.

Childers has a weathered but powerful voice (check Tomcat and a Dandy), can get behind the country swing of Cuttin' Teeth with pedal steel and the barroom thoughts on sobriety and former drinking buddies on Getting to the Bottom.

There are some tough life lessons here (Nose on the Grindstone "and out of pills") and as much attitude as the young Steve Earle.

Rubin's production sometimes errs towards the weird which just adds another element to this pretty terrific album.

Childers is a different and, at times, perhaps problematic country artist for those more attuned to the mainstream, but there'd no doubting his gifts, and his courageous unwillingness to deliver the easy when the difficult is more rewarding.

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You can hear this album at Spotify here.