Mirah Trades Polish for Grit on 'Changing Light'

Mirah's new album, 'Changing Light,' represents a significant evolution, moving from her previous polished sound to a more rugged and gritty texture. The album, released five years after her last LP, evokes arid desert landscapes through distorted guitars and percussive rhythms, contrasting with earlier fluid and blue-hued sounds.

Collaborating with musicians such as Mary Timony and Greg Saunier, Mirah explores themes of desperation and exile. While some tracks retain gossamer acoustic strains and shades of '80s pop ballads, the overall mood is one of stripped-down intensity.

Written during an itinerant period following a breakup, the album features arrangements by Jherek Bischoff. Mirah's characteristic poised vocals navigate these raw soundscapes, creating a unique sonic island that is both enticing and somewhat distant.