Joni Mitchell is, quite simply, a legend. Beautiful songs, soaring vocals and a singular path travelled all make for the stuff of legends and Joni has them all in spades.

She has released some classic albums, my three favourites are Blue, Court and Spark and the focus of this week’s vinyl album of the week Hejira. It’s a restless, moody, dark album chock full of imagery, a real soundscape that will, after a few listens, twist itself into your head and never leave you.

There’s no hit single here, no compromise to the musical direction she was heading. What is here is superb musicianship, outstanding lyrics and a woman stepping with supreme confidence into the next phase of her art. And let’s not forget that this album was released in 1979 and women weren’t routinely expected to break moulds with the confidence that Joni was breaking hers.

Hejira is stunningly good. It’s as simple as that for such a complex album.