On their new album, Lovespirals have shed house/light electronica influence and created a fairly straightforward work. They mix folk, blues, jazz into their Brill Building pop sound, even adding a little country. The guitar playing is polished and confident; Ryan Lum has ditched the distortion and flanged guitar sound that was the hallmark of the earlier incarnation of the band (Love Spirals Downwards). The occasional bluesy lick finds its way into these mostly mellow songs. The production is crisp and clear, and the dreaminess both LSD and LS are know for comes from the song structures and performances, rather than reverb-drenched studio tricks.

Anji Bee has a lovely voice; it’s a big, emotive soprano that’s comfortable singing jazz standards, classic pop and “Quiet Storm” r & b, with an indie edge. Like Tracey Thorn, Bee juxtaposes smooth, torchy singing with introspective singer-songwriter confessionals. Her words here capture the Romantic Doldrums perfectly. Mostly of songs are filled with resignation, such as the wonderful opener “Caught In The Groove.” Other songs, such as “Treading Water” and “Lazy Love Days” examine relationships with diamond-sharp accuracy. There’s hard won wisdom here that’s mature. Songs outside the cycle include a version of the standard “Motherless Child” and the Mazzy Star meets Dionne Warwick hybrid tunes “Sundrenched” and “Nocturnal Haze.”

“Long Way From Home” has many of the qualities of classic singer-songwriter albums. Lovespirals adds their brand of special dreaminess to the recipe.