Vanessa Lowe’s odd—and oddly titled—fourth album explores dark, minor-key prickly music, with emphasis not on melodies but on the singer-songwriter’s cleverly imagistic lyrics and airy, layered vocals. Lowe's band, Bug Eyed Sprite—nothing cutesy about it except its name—creates a rich atmospheric web of sound in a highly polished production: Ben Freelove on bass, Toby Hawkins on drums, Myles Boisen on electric and slide guitars, and producer Kent Sparling on assorted other instruments (melodica, keyboards). Unlike many singer-songwriters, whose guitar is wielded to mostly rhythmic effect, Lowe displays artistry on resonator and acoustic guitars alike. She uses single-note plucking, delicate fingerpicking, and dronelike strums to ratchet up the impact of her music, such as the gorgeous “Goodbye,” the only instrumental among the 14 original songs. Although there’s a slight sameness to some of the material, most often a truly unique spirit and sensibility shine through. (Jicama Salad Co., jicamasalad.net)