Shana Cleveland: Manzanita (digital outlets)

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Shana Cleveland: Manzanita (digital outlets)

Reviewers of this intimate folk album by California-based Shana Cleveland invariably mention she leads the indie surf rock band La Luz, implying she's moved from the twang'n'tremolo sound of West Coast surf groups as she embraced British folk artists of the late 60s and early 70s.

However 2021's self-titled La Luz album was a thoughtful affair, some distance from their earlier sound and that of the Ventures, the Surfaris' Wipe Out and Dick Dale as that “surf rock” description suggests.

La Luz was jangling, indie dream pop with discreet melodic filagrees of surf guitar in the middle distance.

Cleveland was bringing more of her own personality – heard on her alt.folk solo albums, notably 2019's Night of the Worm Moon – into La Luz. Manzanita simply extends her more reflective, mystery-folk persona.

Across 14 songs – from the ethereal opener A Ghost (“I'm trying to show you what I can do, can I come through, through you?”), Light on the Water and Quick Winter Sun to the closing Walking Through Morning Dew – Cleveland effects a beguiling marriage of timeless, elegant folk and wispily delivered insight.

In recent years she became a mother, was successfully treated for breast cancer and moved to the country, major life changes woven through on this slow, often stately and sometimes eerily Gothic journey of (self)discovery, an appreciation of the natural world and simplicity: “I feel so relieved to be back in the country” (Mystic Mine).

Manzanita is a species of Californian trees and shrubs with culinary uses and medicinal properties, a key reference for this entrancing album bearing that name.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here

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