The Order Of Time (2017)

The instantly recognisable citrusy-croon of Tennessee's own Valerie June guides us through time, stopping to lament ex-lovers, revisit old haunts, and reflect on the intimate journey of her soul. Ditching the white-blues production of Black Keys member Dan Auerbach, The Order Of Time demands more distance, more buried houses to fill with memories and song. Matt Marinelli gives June a helping hand, lending a touch of the cosmic to her country; which can be felt in the meditative, calming cradles they create on songs like "If And" and "Just In Time". June honing in on her vocals more than before, laying herself bare amid a band built to be as close to the back curtain as possible.

The Order Of Time paints a portrait of a restless woman cutting her teeth on the moody stew of the Memphis scene, supping on the eclectic musical offerings of Tennessee. Her songs leave the aftertaste of blues, soul, folk; unified by June's country twang and her twinkling guitars. We see her place each song like a tchotchke in front of us, imbuing them with her own life experiences. The stoic song of a betrayed but not-so-surprised lover on "Man Done Wrong", the swooning feeling of joy when you're strung out on a new sweetheart ("With You"), and the celebratory elation of finally digging enough to grab hold of one's roots on the triumphant closer "Got Soul". And as her guitar plucks along the weight of time begins to fall heavy. Through a wash of bright horns and an aching organ we even feel like she might lose herself on "Slip Slide On By", a fantastic lament to an old relation that almost has June ready to jump out her chair and start running back again.

While the record's instrumental backing may seem less slick than her past project, The Order Of Time's modest performances are perfect for June's unadorned and to-the-point lyrics. And the band is even allowed to let loose a little like on the aforementioned closing track or the bluesy stomp-and-shout "Shakedown", featuring members of June's own family as they ecstatically sing back her words. Which goes to show that, while June may still be travelling down this long road, she's not so lonely anymore. Be it family, friends, listener or ghost, we're all welcome to play a part in Valerie June's order of time.