Eleni Mandell - Miracle of FIve

Miracle of Five, Los Angeles native Eleni Mandell’s sixth record, feels as welcome as a suntan on the first warm Spring day. Coming across like a less bitter Fiona Apple and a more approachable Regina Spektor, Mandell’s jazz-tinged folk is equal parts bright and soothing, equal parts dark and haunting (often at the same time). Her conversational lyrics are loaded with seductive imagery of singing birds, plane crashes, and salt trucks, while her heartache shines through playful waltzes on her nylon-stringed guitar. Propelled by a strong supporting cast (including Wilco’s Nels Cline, credited with “weird sounds”) who add colorful layers to the music without detracting a bit, Miracle of Five cements Mandell’s status as a songwriter of the highest caliber. [www.elenimandell.com]