Kevin Bronson on June 28th, 2012

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For seven albums, Eleni Mandell has been the best damned Los Angeles songwriter without a proper record contract, which boggles the mind when you consider her catalog and its graceful excursions into pop, rock, jazz and country. That distinction changes July 10, when her new collection “I Can See the Future” comes out on Yep Roc Records. Mandell, who’s also been one-third of the Living Sisters with the Bird and the Bee’s Inara George and Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark [from whom we just heard Wednesday], is known for her smoky vocals, sweet melodies and piquant lyrics. Her eighth album figures to ascend new heights in all three areas: After a period of soul-searching following 2009’s lamentably overlooked “Artificial Fire,” Mandell embarked on motherhood (enlisting an anonymous sperm donor and bearing twins) and on writing a new album. “I Can See the Future,” produced by Joe Chiccarelli, features contributions from an all-star cast including pedal steel guru Greg Leisz, Los Lobos saxophonist Steve Berlin, drummer Joey Waronker, Bright Eyes’ Nathaniel Walcott and her Living Sisters sisters on background vocals. The swinging “Never Fall in Love Again” features a duet with the estimable Benji Hughes. Jeff Martin’s video for “Magic Summertime” stars Mandell’s ex-beau Charlie Wadhams and Martin’s ex as the homewrecking choreographer, and the video’s ending is rather bittersweet.

||| Stream: “Never Fall In Love Again” (feat. Benji Hughes)

||| Live: Eleni Mandell plays July 10 at the Hotel Café and Aug. 25 at Bootleg Theater.