Album Review: Magnolia Memoir - Pale Fire (Score: 8/10)

PaleFire-SoonDriven by the vision of graceful, cinematic-voiced Mela Lee and multi-faceted key-boardist Alexander Burke, this ever-evolving L.A. based ensemble draws equally from its quirky, soulful jazz roots and fascination for fiery alt-rock in creating their enigmatic but slyly infectious third indie album. Pale Fire rolls with dynamic switches from hushed darkness to explosive bright light (as on the piano pounding first single “Odds & Ends”). MM is about exploring that mysterious gray area between the two, with sparse and in-timate first take tracks and richly textured rock jams. – Jonathan Widran