BORNE out of dissatisfaction, Ritter’s latest volley of words hits many a sweet spot. While commercial acclaim hovers just over the horizon, Ritter’s ever-improving song-writing marks him out.

The album cover, self-painted, takes him past Bob Dylan in at least one respect. Energised by a collaboration with The Grateful Dead’s John Weir – who shares a microphone for the Band-like When Will I Be Changed – Gathering works itself to a crescendo with Dreams, a feverish psychodrama on rolling piano that seems to spill out of its creator.

Ritter called this a record "full of storms", and cleverly draws the listener in with a quiet instrumental then a barnstorming Showboat, with the dry-eyed protagonist willing the rain to fall.

The Royal City Band sound like Elvis Costello’s Attractions on Almost Blue, taking Ritter to his most country set yet. Unlike 2015’s Sermon On The Rocks, this record blows itself out before the end, but even half and a bit good, it’s still twice the record most of his contemporaries could summon.