Clay Dubose — Father Time & Mother Nature (Lazy River Records)

There’s a grit and gravitas to Clay Dubose’s voice that speaks to a well‑lived life. The Texas native made his bones playing in a Blues band on the storied Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. Along the way, Clay distilled his influences into a heady brew of Blues, Country and Rock. In the early ‘90s, he released one of the first albums to be labeled “Americana.” A few years ago, he stepped away from the limelight to concentrate on family and work behind the scenes in the music biz. Now he has returned with a new effort, Father Time & Mother Nature.

The opening cut, “When Heroes Say Goodbye,” crackles with authority as anthemic guitars, woozy keys and a break‑neck beat careen out of the speakers. Clay’s raspy croon cocoons lyrics that limn the lonesome sensation of losing a musical paladin at a time when you’re looking for some emotional rescue: “When I was a kid, you were there for me, a sound inside my head to set me free, I remember all those nights, not so long ago, in the light, my only light was my stereo.”

The album is stacked with plenty of bashers, like the rollicking rave‑up of “Fading Away,” and the effortless cool of “Growing Wild.” But Clay manages to color outside the lines with the Gospel‑tinged introspection of “I Hope You’re Watching” and the Western Cha‑Cha‑Cha of “Waiting For The Day.”

He displays a mordant wit on “Winning Streak,” which unspools a shaggy dog saga of a Vegas wedding that’s powered by slashing guitars, Honky‑Tonk piano and a yodel or two. Then there’s “Dreams Come Undone,” which paints a vivid portrait of self‑sabotage. Meanwhile, the propulsive title‑track searches for signs of intelligent life. Wily guitars ride roughshod, tethered to plinky piano, burnished Hammond organ, roiling bass lines and a galloping gait.

He salts the mix with a couple of well‑chosen covers: Kris Kristofferson’s late‑life benediction “New Game Now,” and the album’s closer — a breezy take on The Kingston Trio’s venerable Folk favorite “Scotch & Soda.” It’s a mellow finish to a welcome return.