Blue-eyed soul man Colin Lake has lived an entire life since he last released an album in 2015: He left New Orleans and retired from performing two years later, sold his home, bought a boat and christened it “Wavelength” after a favorite Van Morrison song. Over the past few years, he and his wife have turned up in Belize, the Caymans, Guatemala and Antigua, only occasionally venturing out to play a gig.

This album was actually recorded before he left town, left on the shelf for a few years and newly dusted off. As a result, it follows naturally from his 2015 album, One Thing That’s for Sure, with its mix of bluesy grit and romantic optimism. The music is a little more laid-back this time, though the likes of Morrison, Ry Cooder and Little Feat remain his musical touchstones. So, it’s purely coincidental that the first two songs, “Extraordinary Times” and “Last Days of the Dark Ages,” sound so topical. He was addressing different crises than the ones we’ve got now, but the music still gives a funky uplift, and the cures he offers—taking guidance from loved ones and musical heroes—still make sense.

The other topical song, “Cross Over the River” was written around that year’s Confederate-flag controversies; Lake characteristically takes it as a cue for an inspiring gospel song instead of a protest. Other tunes anticipate his change of lifestyle with some nautical imagery (and on “Alajuela,” a light tropical sound that Buffett-ites should appreciate). As on the previous album, it’s clear that he loves his wife a whole lot; and two of the longest tracks are lyrically devoted to her, both get his most heartfelt vocals. Figuratively and literally, Lake’s wavelength seems an appealing place to be.