Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Their first album as a bona fide duo since 2009, this release from Nashville's Mr and Mrs Miller sees the pair turn in yet another compelling offering of rootsy Americana tunes which reach deep into the soul. Whilst both parties get equal billing, credit must go to Julie who, as well as writing the songs, recorded her vocals from her bed during a bout of ill health - made even more remarkable given the power and conviction of her performance. Harmonising together for much of the album, Buddy and Julie share vocal duties on the road song title track opener before going completely leftfield by immediately presenting a gothic song about, of all things, the decomposition of human corpses in the strikingly gory "Feast Of The Dead". Keeping the mood on the low side, songs like "Everything Is Your Fault" and "Unused Heart" - the latter stripped back to just Buddy's tremolo guitar and a fractured baby doll vocal from Julie - are a masterclass in conveying the disquiet and bitterness that can be found in a relationship whilst "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" is a simple song of obsession and manipulation that just works. Perhaps the most affecting piece is the stunning "War Child" which, set to the sound of a civil war drum, tells the tale of how conflict affects youngsters in typically matter of fact fashion whilst the supremely tender "Thoughts At 2am" finds Julie, presumably in the midst of her health battles, nailing her colours to the mast in terms of her belief in God. Aside from a punky bonus live track, the perfectly-pitched song of loss "Can't Cry Hard Enough" closes this very real release in heartbreaking fashion.

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