From the sounds of it, the actual exit strategy to get Ron Sexsmith’s soul out of him and into the grooves was to write from an even more personal standpoint than usual, play more piano than guitar, and add a horn section — all of which work to great effect. The horns were recorded in Cuba, but sound midway between the soul of Muscle Shoals and the orchestral manoeuvres of Burt Bacharach. The material ranges from lightweight (the catchy “Brandy Alexander,” which Feist fans may not realize was co-written with Sexsmith) to dark (”Traveling Alone,” which finds that as much as we may love, we’re still on our own). But hope, however battered, is never far away, as attested to by the poppy “This Is How I Know,” the gospel soul of “Brighter Still” and the sprightly ska bounce of “Poor Helpless Dreams.” In an era of largely disposable music, this is a nourishing work for all seasons.