Since appearing in the wake of Jack Johnson’s ascension to the upper echelons of the easy listening categories, Donavon Franenreiter has amped up and stretched out on his second album. Move By Yourself announces its intentions from the get-go, on the title cut.

“Move By Yourself” is perfectly in keeping with his new ethos – away from Johnson’s Brushfire Records, Frankenreiter has instead found himself a home on the venerable Lost Highway, where the likes of Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, and Willie Nelson also get their advances. Immediately more up-tempo, Move By Yourself is a different beast than that lot again.

The title cut is a slice of funk, with a clavinet making it awfully reminiscent of Stevie Wonder. That more deliberate approach is apparent throughout the album, and as such this is a far more enjoyable affair with more life to it. “Fool” sports gospel backing vocals, while “The Way It Is” is laced with strings and additional sounds.

Whilst still mellow, Donavon Frankenreiter’s second effort works that much better than his debut as it is more individual and striking than anything on the self-titled effort that appeared two years ago. “By Your Side” would have stood out then, whereas now it’s a nice diversion away from the stronger and punchier material.