Categories
ESSENTIAL NEW MUSIC

Essential New Music: Miranda Lee Richards’ “Existential Beast”

Miranda Lee Richards apparently lives in 1971 Laurel Canyon, according to her fourth LP, Existential Beast. Opener “Ashes And Seeds” and other tracks ooze the atmosphere of the L.A. studio-musician country rock that permeated discs such as Linda Ronstadt’s Hasten Down The Wind. The major differences between the originals and Richards’ take on the sound are numerous, however.

First, her nature and her singing are ethereal, as aerie-faerie as a roomful of Kate Bush records. But since she doesn’t have the old ’70s L.A. studio mafia in her employ, this music sounds more organic. Plus, the production has a strong modern psychedelia flavor: bashy drums, excessive reverb, the whole nine yards.

Ultimately, Richards is at her best when she drops the Ronstadt/Joni Mitchell homages and unleashes her inner Marianne Faithfull circa “As Tears Go By,” as on “Oh Raven” or closing acoustic waltz “Another World.” Then her voice’s purity shines.

—Tim Stegall