Siobhan Quinn and Michael Bowers make for a powerful combination. On Dreamers, Lovers & Outlaws they bring us the best in contemporary folk music, and through their arrangements and performances they will mesmerize you.

They open with an almost hymn-like song written by Bowers called "Let It Come," and from there on they have you hooked. I almost misread "Ballad of Bill Ballou" as referring to the movie of that name. Thankfully, I realized in time and did not miss an excellent track.

Looking at the track listing will give you an idea of the sort of music to expect here. You can imagine "Valentino's Ghost" and "Kerouac Dreams" to conjure up visions, but be warned and expect the unexpected. One of my favourites is "The Kiss."

Many of the tracks on offer are from Bower's pen, but they also treat the listener to a little adventure with more commonly known tracks. Nanci Griffith's "Love at the Five & Dime" is a case in point, but I bet you never expected to hear a Pink Floyd song on a folk album. "On the Turning Away" is here.

This is an album of surprises -- all pleasant.