You’d be forgiven for assuming the second album-length collaboration between Isobel Campbell (ex of Belle and Sebastian, notably spotlighted on that group’s recent BBC Sessions) and Mark Lanegan (ex of Screaming Trees, presently one-half of The Gutter Twins) is just another shot at exploring the Nancy Sinatra-Lee Hazlewood dichotomy nearly perfected on their joint debut Ballad of the Broken Seas. Sunday at Devil Dirt does explore similar ground, but it nearly matches its predecessor in sophistication and thrills.

First single “Come On Over (Turn Me On)” is a beautifully orchestrated re-telling of the eternal good girl gone for a bad guy, the string and horn sections barely able to keep up with the randy protagonists. “You and I both know where you belong/ Come on over/ Turn me on,” they sing, indie-rock royalty gone lounge-pad sexy. Granted, Broken Seas’ surprises have become familiar, but Devil Dirt’s songs are stronger (although whether they’ll ever best Broken Seas’ brilliant “Some Velvet Morning” retread “The False Husband” remains to be seen).

While these collaborations are largely Campbell’s show behind the scenes (as the primary songwriter and arranger, her stamp is everywhere), on Devil Dirt, she largely provides atmosphere, letting Lanegan sit front and centre. The up-front interplay between the two so well developed last time around is more subdued on Devil Dirt, but considering how fruitful the pair’s time together has been, we likely won’t have long to wait before another Campbell-Lanegan collection emerges.