Chicago-based songwriter Ryley Walker brings stunning instrumental audacity to his evergreen folk explorations, absorbing the lessons of Bert Jansch, John Fahey and other fingerpicking guitar heroes. Yet he lopes across a huge stylistic range, from psych-shaded jazz interplay to bucolic twang and soft rock lustre—all kissed with a delicate, dazzling complexity. Surrounding himself with ace improvisatory collaborators, Walker repays his fondness for folk music's past with thrilling new ideas while distinguishing himself with animated vocals and world-wise lyrics.