Lady Lazarus – “All My Love In Half Light” – [Self-released]

humana   10/28/2013   A Library, CD

These are rather somber songs set to piano (with accordion sound on 1) that is pretty in and of itself (if repetitive and intense), but the vocals of Melissa Ann Sweat can alternate from droning to folky to lovely (as in 6, which goes with the image of the merchant ship she sings about). Perhaps this is to be expected from someone taking her name from a Sylvia Plath poem. This is the second full-length from the San Jose-sprung musician who taught herself when she acquired a keyboard. The vibe is haunting and echoey more than dream pop, for sure. Very pretty piano in 8 and 9.