Joe Henry: Tiny Voices

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * *)

One of Chesnutt's supporters has been the almost uncategorisable Joe Henry.

His Tiny Voices comes with praise from Elvis Costello for its "wonderful musical and sonic fabric that is entirely his own". All true.

Whether it be on the trumpet-coloured, open-hearted songs or the more muted and enigmatic noir-ballads, Henry's voice deftly slides across lines like a jazz singer so, like Costello, picks an approach where his narrative and often European-sounding lyrics will sit most comfortably.

Take the elaborate and multi-textured arrangements for piano, sax, clarinets and other instruments, powerful and distinctive voice (closer to folk-rocking Jeff Buckley than before) and you have another ambitious, diverse and atmospheric winner.

Label: Shock