[wimpLink artistId="3600738"]Jim Moray[/wimpLink]'s self-titled second album is an odd beast. On the one hand it seems to pull back from the sonic excesses of his debut to create something best described as folk-indie. But on the other hand it's very complex, darker, and more satisfying. Most of the tracks are traditional, as before, reworked by [wimpLink artistId="3600738"]Moray[/wimpLink], but there are three of his own compositions and one piece by lutenist [wimpLink artistId="4156870"]John Dowland[/wimpLink] ("Flow My Tears"). Other than a very personal take on the big ballad "Barbara Allen," he's avoided well-known material, and the sound is definitely more acoustic -- at one point the piano evokes school assemblies. It's definitely a disc that demands repeated playing in order to penetrate its shell. But really, it's folk-rock for a modern age, all the more impressive because [wimpLink artistId="3600738"]Moray[/wimpLink] plays everything but strings, brass, and recorder himself, a veritable tour de force that gives him complete control over the sound (he arranged the other instruments). It's definitely more stripped down, but somewhat colder; even his voice doesn't have its earlier warmth. Take time with it, however, and it's ultimately very satisfying, like exploring a house with strange little rooms. ~ Chris Nickson