We live in a world in which death is imminent, misery is routine, and heartbreak is far more common than triumph. Fortunately, Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins fame and ambient pioneer Robin Budd have conjured the beauty of our wretched condition with Mysterious Skin. This haunting soundtrack is consumed with hazy, processed guitars of the dreariest proportions combined with an atmosphere so serene and dreamy, you can actually feel the interpersonal melancholy that connects us all. Guthrie and Budd have surpassed any preconceptions in this existentially powerful score. Pray for more.