Once again expanding his one-man show by involving several guest musicians, Bright Eyes’ latest offering – apparently inspired to some degree by his visit to a spiritualist community of the same name down in Florida – is relatively brighter as opposed to the calming melancholy of his previous (and absolutely brilliant) I’m Wide Awake, Its Morning.

On Cassadaga, Conor Oberst – the man behind it all – extends his vision, injecting a great deal of soul into his folk strums; an endeavour that does bring to mind the work produced by Waterboy Mike Scott during his Gaelic period. The most obvious of these is Four Winds, a playful tune that sounds pretty much like a rewrite of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, but with added bar-room fiddle to lend it that extra folk edge.

With producer Mike Mogis in full support, Oberst’s newest venture also reflects an attempt to expand his audience, not by shaking off the core elements that earned him a cult following throughout his remarkable career, but by instilling a lighter air in the music. Not averse to change or experimentation, as anyone who bought his Digital Ash In A Digital Urn album will already know – Oberst handles his ‘new’ approach with confidence, and this comes across from start to end, whether it’s on the lush orchestration of Hot Knives, the stark charm of Cleanse Song and Lime Tree or the left of centre slant of I Must Belong Somewhere!

CD COURTESY OF Exotique