Mazzy Star Seasons of Your Day

Although Seasons of Your Day is Mazzy Star’s first studio album in 17 years, it’s not exactly a comeback record: The languid LA band never broke up or went on hiatus; it simply ceased releasing the music it was making. That probably explains why Seasons sounds like Mazzy Star unpressing the pause button on its career, which isn’t a bad thing at all. Like previous releases, the new record is dominated by honeyed guitars and Hope Sandoval’s drowsy vocals, with just enough tempo and stylistic variation to keep things interesting. Psychedelic twang is an influence on the shimmering honky-tonk riffs of “Lay Myself Down,” while mournful pedal steel and spurs-jangling percussion create a vintage country mood on “Flying Low.” Elsewhere, the title track conjures the watercolor-tinted folk of Red House Painters, and the resonant “Spoon” features spidery acoustic guitar from the late Bert Jansch. Who needs surprises when the music’s this gorgeous?