After a necessary abstinence from songwriting, Julia Holter finally returns strong with a new album and intriguing collaborations. The pandemic, new motherhood, and the recent deaths of relatives have profoundly affected the composer in recent years, and it seems that these experiences have nurtured her latest release, “Something in the Room She Moves”.

The album is rich in complexity, yet never feels overstimulating. Many melodies are simple and overemphasized, even amid enormous mountains of sound, in that regard what we hear is the embellished line of the ridge. This style is most evident in songs like "These Morning," "Something in the Room She Moves," and "Materia." However, from "Meyou" onwards, the songs lift their polyphonic structures above the previously ridged texture. Particularly, "Ocean" presents numbing counterpoint, lush sound design, imaginative orchestration, and explores deep emotions through foggy evocations of portamented auroras. I feel the need to say that his this track is my personal favorite on the entire album.

With "Spinning," we encounter more danceable grooves and the harshest sound design on the album. And for the final act "Who Brings Me Here" encapsulates all the aforementioned characteristics in single song.

As you can see, the album is a complete adventure, but that's not all. Recently, Julia also collaborated with singer Emma Anderson on her newest single, "Taste the Air." Emma composed the original track, and Julia provided an interesting remix, reimagining "Taste the Air." The original is folky and strikingly resembles, almost note for note, the main melody of Vashti Bunyan's "If I Were." Interestingly, the orchestration also bears some resemblance. However, thanks to Julia's remix, the song takes on a completely new sound, with spicier harmonies, contrapuntal writing, and lush sound design.

These two releases are recommended for anyone seeking contemplative or introspective experiences. I suggest listening to the entire album in one sitting, in the proposed order, as the early songs offer that embellished ridge from which you can view the whole landscape. After four songs, when the ridge disappears, you'll be accustomed to her sound and ready for the complexity that follows.

You can find more information about the artist and his albums on her Official Website. Additionally, you can directly support the artist by ordering her new album here.

You can also check out the release of "Taste the Air" at this link.

Sun Girl 05:52

These Morning 03:49

Something in the Room She Moves 06:18

Materia 03:08

Meyou 05:55

Spinning 06:14

Ocean 05:38

Evening Mood 06:24

Talking to the Whisper 06:52

Who Brings Me 03:38

Author: Martín Cacho

Martín is a video game composer, producer and writer from Sonora, México.