As much as I enjoy La Luz’s albums — their 2021 self-titled fourth album is wonderful — the spectral folk bandleader Shana Cleveland makes on her solo albums is even better. Her debut, “Night of the Worm Moon”, was one of 2019’s more underrated albums and she’s now followed it up with the equally bewitching “Manzanita”. Named for the evergreen shrub that grows in California and is known for its medicinal properties, the record was made while embracing motherhood and beating breast cancer. “This is a supernatural love album set in the California wilderness,” Cleveland says. The 14 songs on the album are alive with mellotron strings, otherworldly pedal steel, desert wildlife and insects, big skies and bigger hearts. Cleveland’s breathy voice is the perfect delivery device for it all.
Check out this KEXP presents Shana Cleveland and the Sandcastles performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded June 26th, 2015.
Songs:
Butter & Eggs
Itching Around
Holy Rollers
The Fat Angel Sings 