There’s nothing better for this time of year than some atmospheric music, and few artists do it quite like Andrew Bird. The multi-instrumentalist with an Appalachian voice has churned out 35 minutes of echoey, dreamy autumn and winter tunes with his new EP “Hands of Glory,” a companion to his latest release “Break It Yourself.” Since the EP features only one new song amid covers and revisitations of “Break It Yourself” tracks, it’s less a cohesive story and more an exploration of bluegrass and country sounds. “Beyond the Valley of the Three White Horses,” a meandering nine-minute bookend to opening track “Three White Horses,” exemplifies Bird’s gift for arranging and creating music that resonates. Although it may not stand on its own, “Hands of Glory” makes for a sweetly melancholic and easily listenable soundtrack for the season.

Grade: B+

B+