Howe Gelb has been in my periphery for a while, but I've never bothered myself enough to seek out his music. Then I was given for review proVISIONS, his first Giant Sand album in four years. Now, I've experienced my share of "grower" albums over the years, but there are grower albums and then there are albums that slap you upside the head when you least expect it. My first impression of proVISIONS was indifferent at best and completely uninterested at worst. I gave it two or three subsequent listens, but with no more of a positive outcome, I shelved it, planning to give it one more listen closer to release date, bang out a review, and be done with it. The album, however, had other plans as it wormed its way into my subconscious so masterfully that my planned final spin of the album blew me away just a little bit.Gelb's Giant Sand project, in its many past incarnations, has continually attracted respected musicians from around the globe, a trend that continues on proVISIONS with guest spots from Isobel Campbell, Neko Case and M. Ward. Perhaps it's because the band has adopted this revolving-door philosophy that Gelb describes Giant Sand as "a mood". It's most certainly a mood steeped in the southwestern atmosphere of his Tucson, Arizona home. Album opener/Isobel Campbell duet 'Stranded Pearl' is a microcosm of the desert portrait that is proVISIONS, as Gelb's sparse, deep drawling vocals make way for twangy guitar and lyrics such as "You stand with one boot upon my fender, reflecting on my glass eye". 'Without A Word' showcases Gelb's ability to teeter the line between speaking and singing, and is beautifully embellished with Neko Case's smoky intonations.The opening two tracks certainly set expectations high, but rollicking, rockabilly, M. Ward-assisted 'Can Do' and sprawling, mariachi-tinged 'Out There' prove worthy of the challenge. Highlights just keep rolling on with a rather sultry cover of PJ Harvey's 'The Desperate Kingdom Of Love'. Piano-centric 'Spiral' is a lovely detour before Gelb hits us with 'Muck Machine', a jangly and rhythmic outing. Gelb puts an exclamation point on his latest outing with the crescendoing and explosive 'Well Enough Alone': "Now I'm never gonna leave, I'm never gonna leave well enough alone".To borrow the title of Giant Sand's previous album, the songs on proVISIONS are all over... the map. Yet they manage to come together and form a cohesive and highly enjoyable album. The more I learn about Howe Gelb the more I wonder why I never embraced his music before now. With his blending of lo-fi experimental Americana and DIY spirit, it's easy to see why he has remained, albeit a relatively obscure, staple of rock music for over twenty years. 85%Giant Sand on MySpace