Years ago I was spending an Autumn evening at my favorite beach (a secluded slice of heaven between Laguna and Dana Point) that despite it's breathtaking beauty, a place that many nights I would have all to myself and my guitar. It was a night chilly enough to require a sweatshirt and digging your feet deep enough into the sand to reach the days cache of heat - definitely a night when a dip in the skinny was pretty much out of the question. Still I walked down to gentle tide and to my amazement discovered that (for whatever tidal current reason) the ocean was bath-water warm. One of the most vivid memories I hold dear was spending the next several hours naked and afloat in this warm effervescent surf.

I tell you this story because it is the best way I know of describing how the music of The Innocence Mission makes me feel. Warm, peaceful and wonderfully transcendent. Comprised chiefly of the married couple of Don and Karen Peris, they make a kind of music unlike anyone else. If you like the latter albums of the Cocteau Twins or Natalie Merchant you would be well advised to check these guys out. Karen sings with a voice of absolute gossamer purity, and her lyrics are simple, yet profound, and though somber in tone she invariably speaks of the good side of human nature.

Their finest record is their second Umbrella, which was followed by their most disappointing Glow, they rebounded well with '99s Birds of My Neighborhood and then retuned in glorious form with their 2001 release Small Planes. Befriended comes very close to matching that one which places it a very close second to their best effort since Umbrella. For the un-initiated their music may sound like elevator music it's not going to rock your world, but upon closer examination their music is indeed elevating. Lovely, quieting and good for the soul it will be high on my list of the year's best.