City of Refuge is the second solo record (ostensibly, anyway) from clawhammer banjoist Abigail Washburn, the female fourth of Sparrow Quartet and formerly from all-girl string outfit Uncle Earl. Ably assisted by a glittering cast of friends and colleagues, she succeeds in creating an accessible, warm sound to which it is fabulously easy to connect.

Washburn’s latest offering is less reminiscent of banjo and bluegrass tradition (or indeed her starker first solo album) than of the early work of Laura Veirs and even the spirit and countrified tone of The Decemberists’ recent release. Attractive melodies and catchy hooks propel unpretentiously literate lyrics as personal conventions are cast aside without breaking sweat or stride. The link, of course, is producer Tucker Martine, who, following The King Is Dead, delivers another richly layered recording but doesn’t bury the banjo. Although less prominent than previously, Washburn’s playing brings an understated insistence behind the want-away spirit and simple lyrical urgency. “I gotta run / Run, run, run / To the city of refuge”, she declares on a surely semi-autobiographical title track. ‘Chains’, written by Kai Welch and Tommy Hans, and signalled as a possible single, cares less about the destination: “Something’s gotta change or nothing will / You gotta leave your home, rattle all your bones / And shake off your chains”. Rich arrangements are never laboured, creating a comfortable, uplifting atmosphere engendered everywhere save for the rather jarring ‘Corner Girl’. The odd digression aside, this is carefully crafted and clearly a complex meld, belied by the honest, open charm that results.

Her career to date has been manifestly and disparately influenced by Appalachian and Chinese music and culture but both are subtle threads to this shape-shifting album as Washburn neatly sidesteps all preconceptions at every turn. When least expected, she eventually trots out a straight-up-and-down bluegrass number, ‘Devine Bell’, as the penultimate track. Half an hour earlier, it’s how you might have anticipated much of the record. Preluded by a washy outro to ‘Dreams of Nectar’ and arriving against the tide, the effect is fun but rather clamorous and unrefined. A gently powerful poise is recovered on meditative, spiritual finale ‘Bright Morning Stars’, with additional vocal support from country/bluegrass veteran Tim O’Brien and Yiliqi and Batubagen, Chinese throat singers who join a large guest cast including Carl Broemel from My Morning Jacket and none other than The Decemberists’ Chris Funk. Neither the accompanists’ sterling contributions, nor Martine’s guiding hand, should overshadow Washburn’s sophisticated songwriting and strong, charismatic delivery – but her co-writer and collaborator, the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Welch, is also entitled to his hefty share of plaudits.

The indie influence makes City of Refuge seem almost mainstream in places and certainly less of an acquired taste than any of Washburn’s previous projects but it is far from being bland. Multi-textured and multicultural, though simple and soulful too, the album is for the most part just an inspiriting listen: original, inventive and twinkling.