Aucklander Will Wood is a country/folk storyteller who has been writing about his life and loves for a few years now. ‘ Magpie Brain & Other Stories ‘ is his sophomore album, following up on the 2014 debut ‘Broken Man’. Folk music’s tradition of telling tales fills this with heart and humour, while an ode to his father in For The Old Man puts his familial heart on his sleeve. Stories of his travels are an entertaining highlight, with New York a vibrantly detailed account of a stay in the city that never sleeps, while dark reminiscences of lost love are accompanied by southern gothic guitars on Drown Drown Drown. With recording done at The Sitting Room in Lyttelton, Will Wood’s fine storytelling and multi-instrumental skills are accompanied by some exceptional performances from the ubiquitous Dave Khan, Jono Hopley on upright bass and Tom Landon-Lane playing bass, lap steel and slide guitars. Reb Fountain’s winsome voice is a perfect counterpoint to Wood’s nuanced vocal treatments. Dedicated to the late, this is a charming set of tales from a writer and performer whose yarn-spinning is both sincere and compelling.