Michelle Cross and Joe Frawley

dollscometolife.bandcamp.com

You've got to be fairly confident in your collaborative abilities to send out press suggesting your new release sounds like the Brian Eno/Kate Bush album that never happened. But, damn it, that's a pretty accurate description of "Dolls Comes to Life." Sorta. At the same time, this record absolutely has its own distinct qualities. Cross' voice IS similar to Bush's, but her songs have their own seductive DNA and dark hooks. And keyboardist/sound-collagist Frawley - a Norwich resident, by the way - has a hauntingly brilliant ability to fuse icily gorgeous melodies with "found" recordings from film, nature, etc. This is perfect music for the bleak midwinter.

- RICK KOSTER