Residing in the sonic space between the countryish psychedelia of Mazzy Star and cabaret styled trip-hop of Portishead, Snowy’s Lilywhite, is a disconcertingly lovely set of almost lullabies.

Lovely because Bonni Evensen’s silky vocals are sensuous and haunting – think Beth Gibbons plus Sam Phillips. Disconcerting because there’s a rather dark undertow to these tunes; regret, death, sadness and ultimately some degree hope are floating in the ether as on “Pills” where Evensen remembers “how it felt when you were just a kid / when you felt great / and didn’t pay for it.” Or on the title cut which tells the tale of a young girl locked away in the hospital, while the world’s beauty remains just out of reach. Filled with some haunting imagery (“while she’s dancing at the biggest ball in town / she is tearing at her blue paper gown”) the tune has the succinct power of the best short stories.

Evensen receives ample help from the lush production by former American Music Club member Tim Mooney and Rain Parade’s Steven Roback, who both pull some multi-instrumental and background vocal duties.

Lilywhite is a languid beauty, especially on tracks like “Three A.M.” and “Pills,” and gives Snowy an auspicious start to what is hopefully a strong career.