Dirty Three have long been known for their extended improvisational creations -- built on organic fiddle melodies, loose and wandering drums and sparse, plunky guitar -- that swell from a seemingly disorganized flutter to a furious rage. On Cinder, the peaks have been trimmed, the valleys neatened and the climaxes attenuated, resulting in an even keeled and well-rounded record that still manages to maintain the raw vigor of previous releases.

Whether Dirty Three are demonstrating mature restraint or finally embracing the possibilities of modern multitrack recording technology, Cinder is distinctly focused and orchestrated. In fact, only five of the 19 songs are longer than four minutes, with none longer than seven. Guest vocals and generous overdubs of mandolin, bass and organ allow Warren Ellis, Jim White and Mick Turner to augment their already lush soundscapes with detail that accentuates their individual skills within the songs as opposed to above them. "She Passed Through" begins with familiar fiddle plucks and sparse, unconnected drums, growing into an anthemic rouse. But the build is controlled and, enhanced by flowing organs, culminates in a theme reminiscent of a song from a sentimental date movie. Tracks like "It Happened" and "This Night" are simple sketches of repeating licks, and "Too Soon, Too Late" is both uncomplicated and beautiful.

At times mellow and ignorable, sweet or aggressive, Cinder is easily Dirty Three's most complete record to date. While the songs are concise, they are well composed and maintain a subtlety of expression that gracefully encompasses a range of emotions.