Awakened from a dream
Mazzy Star formed in 1989 and released their first 3 albums throughout the ‘90s and their fourth album, Seasons of Your Day, in 2013. Still marks Mazzy Star’s first major release since then. The EP features three new tracks and one ascended version of a previously released track. The overall sound of the collection is mellow and dreamy like much of their previous works, and often features a slight folk undertone.
“Quiet, The Winter Harbor” begins with a melancholy piano tune before Hope Sandoval’s sweet vocals kick in to round out the ballad. “You’re like a villain in some old film / Walking in the dark in somebody’s room,” she sings as gentle drums and guitar softly dance through the rest of the track. The song is simple but a beautiful introduction to the EP. The next track “That Way Again” is still delicate, but slightly more upbeat than the previous song, and showcases a tune that leans toward country. In this track, the guitar is the starring instrument and is paired with Sandoval’s melting vocals. The two-minute “Still” features lyrics that are more spoken than sung to rough background guitar, which increases in volume and intensity throughout the short track until quietly fading behind Sandoval’s final lyric, “Smile / I thought of you when awakening.”
The fourth and final track, “So Tonight That I Might See (ascension version)” is a new version of their 2013 song of the same title. The original had a strong folk sound with layered instrumentals while Sandoval’s vocals were kept distant and tight. As the track continues through its seven-minute life, more rock and psychedelic influences can be heard alongside the consistent backing beat. The reimagined track is dreamier and less congested—fitting in on Still. Sandoval’s vocals are kept at a whisper as the fuzzy reverb of guitars keeps the track feeling organic like the other three tracks. Sprinkled electric guitar riffs match the psychedelic and rock vibes of the original—even exceeding the intensity of the original at some points. While Mazzy Star should probably have taken this opportunity to shorten the lengthy track, fans of the original will appreciate the new version. Overall, the reinvented song fits the delicate aura of the EP while also finishing it off with a surprise.
Although short, this collection of four songs does exactly what Mazzy Star wants to achieve at this point in their career. While their recent discography may be sparse, the group clearly does not want to aimlessly release music unless it perfectly captures their airy sound like Still does.
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