Michael Houser, "door Harp"

For fans of Widespread Panic, it will be tough to listen to these 14 acoustic guitar-based instrumentals and not find yourself feeling sad and reflecting on how temporary life is. This mostly downtempo collection of Western-feeling tracks, embellished with gloomy keyboards, cello, pedal steel, and trumpet, arrives less than two months after the Widespread panic guitarist died from complications related to pancreatic cancer.

But joy and empathy for the 40-year-old Houser's family and loved ones are also felt. He has left behind here an intimate portrait of another side of musical personality, one that nicely compliments his work with Widespread, and one that will be appreciated more and more with time. Produced by noted helmsman John Keane, a fellow Athens, Ga., resident, who added pedal steel, keyboards, and guitar to the set, which also features Wayne Postell on trumpet, Andy Carlson on violin, and David Henry on cello. Widespread's Sunny Ortiz helps out on percussion. Especially nice are "Lullaby for NYC" and the dark, heart-tugging "Spanish Gold."