Search - Christina Rosenvinge :: Continental 62

On her third Smells Like Records album -- her second along with 2004's Foreign Land to be released both here and in her native Spain -- she's joined by longtime accomplices Tim Foljahn and Lee Ranaldo on guitar and vocals, rhythm section Jeremy Wilms and Steve Shelley, guests Charlie Bautista on guitar and violin, and well-known Spanish experimentalist turned pop-crafter Suso Saiz, who also co-produces. Of the ten tracks, seven are sung in English, and lyrically Rosenvinge has hit a vital sweet-spot, achieving maximum depth with the simplest language. Her songcraft in general has reached an impressive maturity, with seductive, coiled verses resolving in perfect choruses. The album's highlights include the gorgeous descending chorus of the title track; the propulsive brushwork and close harmonies of "Liar to Love"; "Jelly," a wearied and fragile take on the jazz standard; and the prismatic, closing waltz "Nickel Song."