Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See Review

A HAZE INSIDE, A FOG OUTSIDE, A LASS IN LIMBO

Let's get the obvious out of the way; 'Fade Into You' is probably one of the best examples of doing more with less. It may be the greatest acoustic ballad of all-time. At least alongside Michael Gira's 'Blind.' A stunning achievement in both sonic simplicity and elegant romanticism. But you've already heard all that, being that it's Mazzy Star's crowning jewel. Praise abound, it's left So Tonight That I Might See in a precarious place. Especially as 'Fade Into You' kicks off the album, an inconsistent lurch set adrift behind it. Mazzy Star's gentle brand of Dream Pop invites variability, which causes the disparity while welcoming a Slowcore potpourri. You have haunting Blues Rock in 'Mary Of Silence' and 'Wasted,' existing behind a visage of dust and smoke at a shady lounge. 'Five String Serenade,' an Alt-Country endeavor that lingers under empyreal starlight. And the title track, an impressive seven-minute excursion into droning Experimental Rock. The drowsy inverse of Velvet Underground's hectic 'European Son,' if you will.

As you can see, So Tonight That I Might See never dawdles in resourcefulness, even though the production and Hope Sandoval often catch themselves copping some Z's. It's that infused nocturnal mood, so rich in torpor, it's hard to appreciate the album in any other setting. That being said, Mazzy Star's best efforts are those that merit extra pluck. 'Fade Into You,' obviously, but also my actual favorite track off the record; 'Blue Light.' That gorgeous opening string and cascading notes provide a eulogy of sorts to adolescent dormancy, carrying along a strong Twin Peaks vibe with it. One can visualize Laura Palmer on her bed, existing in emotional limbo before perpetual ruin. 'Bells Ring' accomplishes this same feat, to a lesser degree, as Sandoval's airy, gossamer vocals accentuate Dream Pop like no other. Even Victoria LeGrand, even Beth Orton, even Elizabeth Fraser. Her voice is imprinted on the fabric of feeling, a heavenly commodity that allows So Tonight That I Might See to flourish when it otherwise wouldn't have.