The late, lamented Mazzy Star was -- like all quiet rock bands -- a classic case of "love 'em or hate 'em." They never seemed to be having a good time on stage or on record (a song called "happy" being particularly ironic), they loathed stardom and media attention, and it seemed all they could do was to release an album every three years or so. But for their fans, their reverb-drenched sound of rainy-day heartbroken blues had no equal.

Mazzy Star -- like the band they were born of, Opal -- split in a cloud of acrimony and willful hearts. While nothing has been heard from guitarist David Roback, chanteuse Hope Sandoval has re-emerged with a new band, The Warm Inventions, formed with ex-My Bloody Valentine drummer Colm O'Ciosoig. Their debut album, "Bavarian Fruit Bread," eschews the Velvets/Doors-inspired psychedelic side of Mazzy and plunges further into their realm of minimal, acoustic arrangements.

Hope and Colm make folk rock with a touch of mystery around the edges, thanks to some elegantly subtle production tricks. Think Nick Drake with Brian Eno at the controls. They take the acoustic guitars, keyboards and harmonicas of folk and submerge them in clouds of fuzzy guitar echo and washes of cymbal. Out of this muted, warm soundscape emerge Hope's vocals, with a startling, erotic clarity, like she's purring secrets straight into your ear.