“Four years after the release of her impressive debut, “Happenstance,” singer/ pianist Rachael Yamagata returns with an ambitious two-part album, mostly produced by Bright Eyes multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis. On the first part (”Elephants”), she sticks to brooding breakup ballads with long, languid piano chords and lush string arrangements, the perfect soundtrack for the lovesick. Her breathy vocals are soft and soothing on slow tracks like “Over and Over” or “What If I Leave,” while the sparse, acoustic duet with soulmate Ray LaMontagne (”Duet”) sounds raw and intimate. The mood changes radically on the second part, when Yamagata emerges with gritty, garage-rock tunes a la PJ Harvey, delivering defiant hooks with the energy of someone taking revenge (”Faster”). “We can stay together separately/ And we won’t be lonely at all,” she sings almost cheerfully on “Sidedish Friend.” —Sven Philipp”
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