With a voice that sounds at times like a cross between Bjork and Debbie Harry, lyrics like Townes Van Zandt, and a sonic landscape ranging from the ethereal to the down-home, Kelli Hanson rocks her way through her latest effort, Our Buildings. This splendidly well-produced mix of songs ranges from the '80s-infuzed "Chariot" to a more moody, ephemeral "River (She's A)," where Hanson even seems to channel a little R&B.

Hanson has a fierce gift for the unknown, marrying all these disparate areas of music into one cohesive style. "Lips" could just as well be masterfully performed by Moloko, while the title track sounds like it may have been plucked from the repertoire of Corinne Bailey Rae. Hanson's ability to so seamlessly integrate pretty much every modern style of music into each song is indeed her biggest asset.

Despite all the sleek production on the rest of the disc, the strongest track on the disc may be "Fall in Canandaigua," a soft, airy piano instrumental that sounds like it was recorded in someone's living room during a recital. The piece is a lovely, unexpected break from the rest of the album and provides a sweet, albeit somewhat jarring transition to the haunting title track. In that tune, Hanson returns to her lovely, poetic lyrics: "Open screen doors on the porch for the breezes / To air us out ... Broken dreams falling down like shingles / We'll share stories of the moonlight."

Our Buildings is a sharp collection of songs that stand as steady and unshakable as buildings on a city block. With Hanson's myriad influences and the sleekness of the entire production, this record could be one of the more impressive indie rock releases out of the Bay Area this year. (Bigger Than the Barn Records)

www.kellihanson.com

-Kim Ruehl