Esmerine – “La Lechuza” – [Constellation]

Some music feels like an assault on the senses. This exquisite album does not. It is like a soothing massage that adds layer upon layer of beauty until your heart breaks wide open. Each song is a lovely package, self-contained and marked by gentle entry of each instrument into the mix: marimba, violin, cello, harp, sometimes voice and piano, steel drums, bass. Moods swing from the surging joy of “Trampolin” to the nostalgic heartache of “Snow Day for Lhasa.” This is a perfect listen for a rainy day marked by double rainbows, and a lovely tribute to Lhasa de Sela.