I shall get straight to the point. Phil Elverum is a songwriting genius. A man of dignity, strength and undeniable beauty. A treasure to be treasured. So, any new release from him is a moment to be savoured. "Lost Wisdom" is a delicate, fragile creation. Full of quiet beauty and subtle touches. As an added bonus Julie Doiron and Fred Squire were brought on board and the results are stunning. This album is one to let sink slowly into your heart as you admire the gorgeous texture and profound tenderness on display.

"Lost Wisdom" is a near perfect marriage of quiet voice and quiet guitar. This album is low key to the extreme. Most songs are based around a quietly strummed acoustic and the superb voices of the participants involved. It is also a short album. Ten songs of brief beauty. The opening track, the title track, is in fact the longest, and quite stunning. Doiron and Elverum duet with gorgeous results. Her angelic voice is a great counterpart to Elverum's trembling vulnerability. There is not a bad song on this album I can assuredly state. They are all worthy and truly magnificent. "Voice In Headphones" is slow and hypnotic, whilst "You Swan Go On" is an unblemished ode to love. Doiron takes the lead on "Who?" and this song resonates with discerning elegance. "Flaming Home" is tenderness writ large. It's grace is quite exquisite. I could go on with more glowing adjectives. Suffice to say, this is quite simply a great album. Its themes are simple, yet quite profund. Love and human vulnerability are written about with a soul and spirit rarely displayed. Exquisite and essential.

Lost Wisdom can be purchased from P.W. Elverum & Sun.