As ever more bedroom producers glide into public consciousness on a wave of blog buzz, at least Willy Mason still tours the globe, acoustic guitar in hand, sharing stories of life’s struggles. ‘Carry On’ – his third album and first in five years – glows with his trademark authenticity. ‘Show Me The Way’ has the vivid tragedy of a Dylan epic packed into two minutes while the toiling title-track has hymnal hopefulness. The arrangements can be flabby, but what you’ll hear at the heart of ‘Carry On’ is the voice of one of music’s great troubadours.

Robert Cooke