Unexpected and Satisfying

Dreamy, psychedelic and expansive are just a few of the adjectives to describe the new release Until the Hunter from Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions. Their third studio album is one that explores love, nature, bizarre characters and metaphors that turn any plain looking individual into a weird and wonderful person.

Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions is the brainchild of Hope Sandoval of the band Mazzy Star and Colm Ó Cíosóig of My Bloody Valentine. Two different bands that when combined bring the best parts from each other. The acid-y lo-fi sound from My Bloody Valentine paired with Sandoval’s youthful vocals transform what could be otherwise be an album destined to slip silently between the cracks into a fantastical, psychedelic journey of dream pop.

One might not get an idea for what this band may sound like by looking at the album cover. With what appears to be a jellyfish that looks like a water droplet, with shortened tentacles cast in iridescent blues and pinks, the one take away when viewing the cover is that it will be an otherworldly experience for the listener.

It begins with the lingering track “Into the Trees” which seems like an exploration of all that encompasses dreamy psych pop with repetitive drumming, trippy vocals and even instrumental appearances from organs and 1930s sounding vibraphones. Songs like “A Wonderful Seed” and “The Hiking Song” prefer a minimalist approach and do not have much more than Sandoval’s girlish vocals and an accompanying guitar. “Let Me Get There” features a duet with Kurt Vile that is both gloomy and yearning. Their song “Day Disguise” combines colorful instrumentation with vocals reminiscent of Devendra Banhart in the way that Sandoval just touches upon certain syllables and accentuates a particular consonant in a word.

Whether it’s the tragic Miss Sylvia in “A Wonderful Seed” or the fusion of vibraphones, xylophones or echo-y guitar Until the Hunter casts a lasting impression on the listener. For those who come to listen that are fans of My Bloody Valentine or Mazzy Stars, you will not be disappointed and a new love will evolve for Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions.