Guy Clark is very select in the albums he releases, over the past 25 years or so he's only released a very small number of discs, but each one is a fantastic, studied collection of crafted songs, and 'The Dark' is no exception.
His attention to detail is evident right throughout the disc it has an open an unproduced sound, but everything is in place, there's a tremendous amount of instrumental detail in the background, especially guitar and mandolin, evidence that these are songs that have crafted and honed to perfection.
The open instrumental work suits his easy-going relaxed vocal delivery perfectly - it gives the disc an intimate feel that works especially well on 'Homeless' a modern tale of life on the street, and 'Soldier's Joy, 1864' a fairly gruesome historical song.
Picking highlights is very difficult, every song is perfectly executed and it's hard to find anything that doesn't feel 'just right' - but the second track 'Arizona Star' one of the more upbeat songs, is a real highlight with its biographical narrative.
'The Dark' is a timeless album; it could have been recorded anytime over the past 30 years, and that's its strength. It feels like an old favourite on first listen, and will certainly stand the test of time. An album of incredibly high standards in every respect, Texan singer/songwriting at it's very best. Highly recommended. 

£13.49