PRESS

“One thing that is certain, Miranda Lee Richards has created in Existential Beast an album of some astonishing beauty. Profound of lyrics, gorgeous in the playing, sung with a voice that embodies an unearthly allure. Every song has an emotional resonance, a soul-satisfying lyrical depth, even as Miranda Lee Richards dances elegantly and effortlessly across styles, claiming each one as representing her own special musical affinity, before pirouetting to another with which she sounds as equally at home.” — Jonathan Aird, AMERICANA UK (10/10)

 "Richards’ third and follow up Echoes of the Dreamtime couldn’t be better titled. The eight songs here, recorded with her husband, producer Rick Parker in The Sandbox, their LA home studio, with a group of musician friends, conjure a feeling of time out of time. Opener “7th Ray” captures that spine-tingling otherworldly sense perfectly: “You came in on the 7th ray of the 7th day of the year,” she sings over seasoned pedal steel. "Colours So Fine", another stand-out, is five and a half minutes of consciousness reawakening cloaked in rich Byrdsian country. The sublime "First Light Of Winter" though is the moment it all comes together; Richards’ transcending, perhaps, for the first time, her influences, and no longer constrained, arriving at psychedelia’s higher plane.” — Lois Wilson, MOJO Magazine (four stars)

"Miranda Lee Richards isn’t a newbie to the Americana scene. The San Francisco singer-songwriter has two albums and an EP out, but her last, Light Of X, was back in 2009. Today, we have Richards’ new track “7th Ray” off her upcoming record Echoes Of The Dreamtime out in January. It’s a gorgeous midtempo track that sounds a bit like what Beach House come up with if they tried to write roots rock."

— Grace Birnstengal, STEREOGUM

 “For an artist mentored by Metallica's Kirk Hammett who has also worked with the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Miranda Lee Richards is one mellow musician. The follow-up to her 2001 debut, Light of X, evokes her Cali dream-pop heroes Mazzy Star, although Richards' music is airier and poppier — think of it as freak-folk with just a schmear of freak. ‘Life Boat’ is a big, warm hug with dub effects, pedal steel, and hash-den tambourine; ‘Mirror at the End’ sports a chorus big enough for Sheryl Crow. Delivered in a pure, unblemished voice, even the sad songs are comforting…”

— Will Hermes, ROLLING STONE

"Another L.A.-based artist, Miranda Lee Richards, has veered from the trendy norm, with her latest release, Light of X (Nettwerk). Sonic portraits of Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris color almost every track of this album (particularly ‘Hideaway’ and ‘Hidden Treasure’), and Richards feels no need to disguise her nod to these luminaries--nor should she. The singer successfully channels her hippie-princess vibe through wah-wah pedal steel and lithe soprano, resulting in retro-leaning, Baroque folk-pop perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. X reminds us, once again, that the creative Mecca Laurel Canyon is not just a place but also a sound and state of mind. " — Jessica Draper, PERFORMING SONGWRITER

”Glorious sun-dappled cosmic country from the one-time BJM associate. Like Mazzy Star blinking into the morning light, the yellow vinyl makes it even more sunny.” — NME

“In the Herethereafter, R. Crumb goddaughter Miranda Lee Richards tosses up a recipe for mescaline salad that calls for tape-looped guitars, sitars, Beatles-esque strings, some Stones psychedelia and a sprig of French romantic decadence (Baudelaire's Flowers of Evil). Given time and a taste for sin, she might well be the Marianne Faithfull for a new millennium.”

— Henry Cobot Beck, INTERVIEW MAGAZINE