Miranda Lee Richards Issue #38

Light of X (Nettwerk)

By Kim Newman
Published: December 1st, 2008 | 12:00am

For an artist who learned to play guitar from Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, and whose first stint was as guitarist and vocalist for the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Miranda Lee Richards’ songwriting and solo work comes somewhat as a surprise — albeit an uninspired and lackluster one.

Her sophomore release, Light Of X, Richards’ first since her 2001 debut The Herethereafter, is aching, moody, and simply unadventurous. Such light music is a far cry from the expected rock and psychedelic sound from which she got her start. Rather, Richards’ music falls in that space between folk, country, and alternative often used to highlight those poignant final cuts on television dramas like Grey’s Anatomy. Featuring 12 gentle and delicate alterna-pop songs, Light Of X highlights Richards’ strongest asset — her clear yet ethereal voice, which is reminiscent of late-‘90s siren Dido (also a Nettwerk artist), especially on the tracks “Mirror At the End” and “Savorin’ Your Smile.”

Sure, Richards has a bit of twang (check “Olive Tree” and “Life Boat”), as well as a small sprinkling of ‘60s psychedelic, but it isn’t until album closer “Last Days Of Summer” — an ambient ballad, reminiscent of Blue-era Joni Mitchell, driven by melodic piano and accentuated by swelling orchestral string arrangements — that Light Of X really stands out.

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