Cowboy Junkies – Renmin Park (2010)

Renmin Park, the first volume in the Cowboy Junkies Nomad Series, which projects an 18-month cycle that will produce four albums, was named for the park where guitarist/songwriter Michael Timmins spent a considerable amount of time while in the process of adopting two children from China. Built on a foundation of loops, conversations, street performances, and other found sounds from the region, Renmin Park arrived in June 2010. - All Music Guide

This is one of the most experimental moments for Cowboy Junkies. Experimental in many ways too. A lot of these songs do not use the lovely, narcotized vocals of Margo Timmins and it's kind of weird but enthralling to hear that they sound good even without her help but her vocals in some of the songs are undeniably welcome. Also the band tries an eastern (particularly Chinese) flavor in the songs as it is inspired by their travels to China. We hear found sound recordings blending with their Alt Country flavors and it's a successful mix. The album is not one of their best but it is certainly one of their riskiest.