After a period of demanding touring in support of the second Rhye album, Mike Milosh decompressed by starting his mornings in front of a baby grand piano, and informally worked on new material with a touch lighter than that of his previous releases as Rhye.
Spirit
, a mini-album of sorts with three instrumentals and five vocal numbers, is consequently even more ambient than the silken
Woman
and
Blood
. Milosh still clearly writes of longing and devotion and remains unguarded, but sometimes vocalizes at a volume low enough -- matching the sparse, sensitive instrumentation -- to resemble a somniloquist. The most emotive and well-defined songs are collaborations. "Needed" (Dan Wilson), "Patience" (Olafur Arnalds), and "Save Me" (Doveman) are also the standouts on this abbreviated set. ~ Andy Kellman