Sydney songwriter Mark Lucas has been treading the boards of Sydney bars, clubs and cafes for roughly four decades now, since emigrating from England in 1981. Along the way he’s released something like 14 albums, both with his band The Dead Setters and under his own solo name.

Barely a year has passed since he released the excellent Onward Into The Fog album with his band and now we’re graced with Magnetic West, a rich and resonant collection of folk and country songs recorded with ‘his rainy day friends’.

As with all of Lucas’s releases, it’s his economical and poetic turn of phrase, delivered via wistful and melancholic melodies that is his greatest appeal. Here he sings, with humour and romance, of the passing of time, from childhood in England, through his various Antipodean adventures. 

Of particular note is the mandolin playing of Glenn Skarratt and the violin of John Lee, both adding  a lilting grace to the songs. ‘The Ten PM To Hay’ is reminiscent of Paul Kelly, ‘The Part Of Me That’s Part Of You’ pulls hard on the heartstrings like a lost Willie Nelson classic and the opening track ‘Into The Sun (Magnetic West)’ sparkles courtesy of some fine fingerpicked guitar.

A prolific and consistently world class songwriter, Lucas has once again corralled together a wonderful set of emotive and melodically rich Antipodean folk and country songs.