(Ecstatic Peace!)

www.ecstaticpeace.com

Keith Woods, who records under the name Hush Arbors, has played with many of psychedelic folk's leading lights - Current 93, Six Organs of Admittance, Sunburned Hand of the Man and Wooden Wand among others. His eleventh full-length (and second on Ecstatic Peace!) pulls away, a bit, from the transcendent folk loveliness of last year's self-titled, quickens the pace and jacks up the country two-step under another set of very strong songs. Yankee Reality opens with freewheeling guitars - in "Day Before" one of two tracks where J. Mascis sits in on guitar - and whispery vocals, its warmth as watery and uncertain and welcome as the winter sunshine of its lyrics. "Lisbon" brings in the skittery one-two beat of Saturday night country (it returns, with Mascis drumming this time, in with "Coming Home").

Woods' backing band includes long-time collaborator Leon Dufficy, along with a jazz bassist Jason Ajemian (Chicago Underground Trio, Born Heller) and drummer Ryan Sawyer from Lone Wolf, Tall Firs and Stars Like Fleas. It's a solid crew, beefing up the rhythm section considerably, and facilitating a more rocking sound. Yet for all this propulsion, we seem to give up some of the floating, dreamscapery of last year's self-titled. Yankee Reality is less mysterious, more raucous and accessible. It also saves its two best tracks for last. Penultimate "While You Slept," jangles with a bluegrassy psychedelia, soaring in its chorus ("Far away...far away") into untethered gorgeousness. "Devil Makes You High" amps up its distorted guitars, Woods' voice drifting in a falsetto over fuzzy avalanches of feedback, a day dream, an anthem and an overload of rock turbulence all at once.

Standout Tracks: "While You Slept", "Devil Makes You High" JENNIFER KELLY