It’s been eight long years since Gillian Welch released an album. Now at long last, the follow-up to Soul Journey is here.

There are no surprises, which some people may see as a negative, but fans of Welch only want to hear her voice and David Rawlings’s unrivalled guitar playing. This is a beautiful collection of songs, proving once again what a formidable songwriting team Welch and Rawlings have become.

From the opening ‘Scarlet Town’, they move effortlessly through each song – and in-between we are treated to some wonderful moments, such as the delicate harmonies on ‘The Way It Will Be’ and the joyful sound of banjo and harmonica on ‘Six White Horses’. Has it been worth the wait? Of course it has – especially when it’s Gillian Welch.