After 25 years in the business, and in a period of high productivity now they are free of record company constraints, Toronto's Cowboy Junkies decided to set themselves a challenge. Inspired by a series of four paintings given to the band by Cuban-American artist Enrique Martinez Celaya they set about the idea to release four albums over a period of eighteen months.

'Demons' is Volume 2 of the 'Nomad Series'; originally the band planned a collaboration with their friend, singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt. Sadly he passed away on Christmas Day 2009 before the planned album could be made, so they decided instead to record an album of cover versions of Vic's songs.

You may not have heard of Vic Chesnutt, and for this you may be forgiven, his discography of seventeen albums since 1990 have gone largely unnoticed. Partially paralysed at 18 in a car accident, he was wheelchair bound yet still able to play. He recorded his songs and played live gaining a decent cult following for his acoustic based folk material. The unusual dark lyrics of personal dysfunction, death and suicide different from the norm. His songs have been covered by Smashing Pumpkins, REM and Garbage to name a few.

Cowboy Junkies approach Vic's songs in their own style, a laid back alt-country/folk sound, polished, yet with a distinctive live feel. 'Wrong Piano' opens the album swathed in Hammond and fuzzy guitars, the vocals of Margo Timmins mixing sweetly with the chilled vibe, not what I was expecting at all. 'Flirted With You All My Life' sounds remarkably upbeat considering the subject matter and lyrics - "I flirted with you all my life, even kissed you once or twice" (Chesnutt was quoted as saying he had attempted suicide several times, his death was an overdose of muscle relaxants). 'Ladle', with its beautiful sounding guitar riff, lazy as you like and so rock n roll sounding, works for me. Closing track 'When the Bottom Fell Out' starts with a live recording of Vic's pre-song banter with the audience before it segues in with the song proper and is a fitting album closer.

Having never myself been a Cowboy Junkies fan I am pleasantly surprised and find this album truly enjoyable. If anything 'Demons' makes me want to check out Vic Chesnutt's back catalogue more than the Cowboy Junkies', and for this they must be congratulated. Their versions seem to capture the mood of the lyrics, sometimes haunting and desolate but not depressing or dull. For this is more than just a covers album, it is a tribute to a lost friend, and if it opens the world's eyes to the music of Vic Chesnutt then it is a success.

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