Blanket Of Calm [Colored Vinyl] (Grn)

Healing Potpourri specialize in effervescent chamber pop that's all but guaranteed to leave the listener in a better mood. But on their new LP, Paradise, the San Francisco-based band led by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Simi Sohota offers more than just sonic escapism. The album, written and recorded over the past two tumultuous years, finds Sohota processing the often overwhelming deluge of stress, frustration, and despair that's become a part of modern life. But rather than being completely deflated, he pushed Healing Potpourri's sound in new directions, blending warm electronics and elements of vibrant psychedelia into something that's as eclectic as it is instantly enjoyable. The result is 11 songs that seek to imagine a better world and strive to make it a reality, while also still taking the time to appreciate the moments of brightness that can shine through in hard times.