Haunting, folksy soul sung beautifully.

This second album from Canadian singer-songwriter is ambitious and intricately assembled, yet stays true to the “doom soul‰” aesthetic of her past work. In fact, if anything, Neuroplasticity magnifies the doom with richer songs full of complicated polyrhythms and soaring guitar lines.

The album has a very gothic feel and though the southern folk, blues and gospel that dominated her last album are less overt, they still underlie much of the album. Perhaps more importantly, the feelings those styles evoke, grand feelings of doom, salvation, pain and perseverance, are ever-present in Al Spx‰’s voice, which is at once delicate and powerful, beautiful but aggressive and sometimes spine-tingling.

The album begins with the frantic, powerful trumpet playing of Ambrose Akinmusire, who is also featured on “Old Knives,‰” helping make songs to highlights of the album. As if the album weren‰’t dark enough on its own, Michael Gira of Swans adds vocals to “Exit Plan‰” and “A Season of Doubt,‰” the extra bleak, devastating final track.

Recommended Tracks: 3, 5, 9
RIYL: Sharon Van Etten, Wye Oak, Swans, Kate Bush