Hope Sandoval has returned to the world of the living sporting a backing band (the Warm Inventions), and bearing gifts in the form of her first full length record post-Mazzy Star. Several years have past since Mazzy Star had a semi-hit in “Fade Into You”, and boy has she changed her tune since then (if by “changing her tune”, you understand that to mean, “really hasn’t changed anything at all, but has gotten even better at it”…we assume that you do). All you really need to know is this: if you liked “Fade Into You,” then you’ll want to pick up her disc Bavarian Fruit Breadright away, end of discussion. Seriously. You better be pulling out your Bank of West Virginia Discover card even as you’re reading this. Slow, but not plodding, Hope and the W.I.s manage to avoid the fate of many mood albums like this, so instead of the tracks bleeding together until you realize you’ve just been suckered into listening to one long fifty-five minute opus, each track here has a distinctive sound and a nice tasty hook. Ex -My Bloody Valentine member Colm O’Ciosoig does the honors on guitar and, not surprisingly, helps sustain the the dark, lush feel that surrounds her voice. Perfect for long evenings with the shades pulled if you know what we mean. We assume that you do.
Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions
Rough Trade/Sanctuary
