Zachary Cale introduced his solemn, grimly introspective brand of American folk to the world with 2006’s Outlander Sessions, a minimally produced affair that saw the singer blending archetypal images of the American West with reflections on abandonment, despair, and personal isolation. Cale’s third album, Noise of Welcome, seldom strays from the lyrical concerns of his debut, but his instrumental technique has improved incalculably, making the album the strongest of his career. Cale is joined by a number of veteran players, including Dan Shuford of the country-rock outfit D. Charles Speer and members of the psychedelic folk group Illuminations. They ably support Cale as he builds unpredictable songs around his fleet-fingered picking and fondness for alternate guitar tunings. Cale’s willingness to experiment with unusual sounds and unorthodox songwriting is responsible for some of Noise of Welcome’s most affecting moments, particularly the stark instrumental “Nocturne in G Minor” and the bluesy shuffle of “Shanghaied.”