Cale Tyson: Careless Soul (Clubhouse Records)

Merle Haggard may be gone, but fans of country music that is rooted in the harsh realities of American life – white man’s blues – need look no further than Cale Tyson for a new torch bearer. Obviously, giving Tyson such a mantle as ‘the new Merle’ is putting too heavy a weight on his slender shoulders, so we’ll simply describe the Texan as a genuine talent: his voice is supple, arrangements sparse and the songs are unfailingly beautiful, evocative and moving, Railroad Blues and Ain’t It Strange possessing timeless qualities. Careless Soul is his official debut album – 2015’s Introducing Cale Tyson CD compiled two EPs that he had earlier released in the US – and suggests a remarkably mature musical vision. Watch that man.