Kindred

Consistently intriguing and frequently gorgeous, Kindred marks a creative advance for Chicago singer/songwriter Gillespie. Her 2009 release Light Year hinted at the expansive ambient textures that find a fuller realization in these tracks. With the aid of producer/co-arranger Darwin Smith, Gillespie constructs soundscapes blending a variety of acoustic string and woodwind instruments with programmed beats and vintage synthesizers. The effect is akin to stepping inside a Japanese watercolor painting, with sonic shades merging and blurring behind Gillespie’s sometimes caressing, sometimes keening vocals. “Golden Central,” “Swimming In Amber,” and “Blue Morpho” combine the otherworldly charm of the Cocteau Twins with the edger moments of Kate Bush’s ‘80s-era work. “Merged Furs” and “Old Man Dove” go even further, suggesting the ambitions of prog-rock with their suite-like intricacies. More straightforward is a percolating techno-pop cover of Doug Burr’s “In the Garden.” Kindred benefits from its sense of mystery – there’s a lot to explore in its lush interiors and deep, eerie spaces.