Rating: NNNN
L.A. songwriter Eleni Mandell’s eighth album is full of triumphantly sad, vivid recollections of past lovers, dreamlike hopes for the future and occasional bursts of joy. Written after the dissolution of a several long-term relationships, it’s confident, slow and sultry, and ripe with midsummer magic.
The classic, elegant sound owes part of its charm to string and horn arrangements and excellent backup vocals by Mandell’s Living Sisters bandmates Becky Stark and Inara George. But the prettiness is tempered by enough gritty guitar, synth and drums to keep things modern.
Mandell’s vocal delivery remains fascinating: laid-back but prone to sudden airy leaps, as on the soaring ending of Now We’re Strangers. If only all songwriters were this articulate.
Top track: Looking To Look For
