Zola Jesus - Stridulum II

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release
Soundclips

4...according to our Ant on Thu 19 Aug, 2010.

This basically expands the 'Stridulum' mini-album (that originally appeared on Sacred Bones) into a full length adding 3 extra tracks to bulk it up. This girl has a knack of writing what is essentially dark gothic pop music. Almost like a more bubblegum Dead Can Dance At Times. Her operatic vocal training shows in her voice although sure never really belts it out. The overall mood is ghostly and ethereal rather than being overtly dark. Anyway you can check out what Brian had to say about the first version. The additional tracks feel like they make the record a more complete statement rather than being tagged on the end as an afterthought although 'Sea Talk' is a re-recorded version which originally appeared on 'Tsar Bomba' and it really reminds me of Joy Division classic 'Atmosphere'.

To play these clips you need to either update your browser (Norman Records recommends Google Chrome) or update your Flash plugin.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Night 2. Trust Me 3. I Can’t Stand 4. Run Me Out 5. Stridulum 6. Manifest Destiny 7. Tower 8. Sea Talk 9. Lightsick

OVERVIEW:

Zola Jesus is the endeavor of a solitary girl named Nika Roza Danilova to simultaneously combat and invoke the approaching apocalypse using the only weapon/offering she has; her voice. After a decade of opera study and a musical awakening involving such varied inspiration as Billboard bubblegum, classical aria's, no-wave, and avant industrial, she was able to thread her influences into a sound uniquely her own. Nika refines her soulful psalms creating pop songs that are as equally nurturing as they are foreboding. The Guardian, NME and the BBC are already signing her praises. Stridulum II will be a full length and contain three previously unreleased tracks that thematically expound on the EP. Zola Jesus and her band will be touring the UK opening several dates for Fever Ray and doing a full European tour in Sept immediately following those shows.

Be the first to review this record. Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!