Drawing of Threes

Desertshore—featuring Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters sideman Phil Carney and pianist Chris Connelly—expands beyond its instrumental beginnings by adding producer/singer Mark Kozelek (also of Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon) to its sophomore effort. Together, the members turn the first six tunes into grand works that are the most accessible and exciting pieces that any of their ensembles has attempted in some time. The songs build on a hypnotic, repetitive groove that turns “Diana” into another satisfying epic. With acoustic guitars and double-tracked vocals, “Mercy” plays like an early-'70s folk ballad that rises further as the harmonies add dimension. “Turtle Pond” and “Molle” are dreamlike, the perfect representation of their collaborative moments. The ending four tracks feature three brief instrumentals that point up an engaging melancholia. Connelly’s piano captures a somber classical influence (“Light Flowers”). Carney’s acoustic guitar picks out a wistful melody ("Pollen Hinges”). The final track, “Matchlight Arcana,” expands into a four-minute sayonara that's expressively grand.