Miranda Lee Richards - Light of X (2009)

Born in San Francisco to hipster artist parents (who created the underground comics 'High Times' and 'The 40 Year Old Hippie'), Miranda was a member of the notorious Brian Jonestown Massacre (appearing in the cult movie 'Dig!') before relocatng to LA and securing a solo deal with Virgin, who released her debut album 'The Herethereafter' in 2005. Her first UK release was a ltd ed 7" vinyl single entitled 'Life Boat' for the Sonic Cathedral label in late 2007, which attracted excellent press from NME, Time Out and The Guardian and led to her signing with Nettwerk. 'Light Of X' is moody and introspective, shimmering with folk, country, psychedelic and even classical influences. It features a top-notch group of musicians and is produced by Rick Parker (BRMC, The Von Bondies). The album balances Miranda's beautiful, close to the heart vocals with music that has the wide open, spacious feel of a desert sky or an empty church. Call it Ambient Americana, or Miranda's self coined term 'Psychedelic Chamber Folk Rock', 'Light Of X' is an album full of love and loss, desolation and salvation, and is moody yet comforting.