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Celebrated composer Julia Holter, based in Los Angeles, released her latest work, Aviary, in 2018. The 90-minute album aimed to capture the conflicting emotions of modern life by incorporating medieval Occitan, bagpipes, and a variety of other instruments. Six years later, Holter’s new album, Something in the Room She Moves, is no less ambitious in its goal to capture the essence of presence and transformation. However, the approach is more accessible, with an emphasis on beauty rather than overstimulation. Throughout the 10 tracks, flutes and Holter’s graceful vocals create a sense of openness. The pandemic, motherhood, and the loss of her young nephew are the personal contexts for this album, which reimagines a Beatles song title to highlight female empowerment.
The presence of songs like Sun Girl reveals that Holter has not completely abandoned pop music, a skill that was evident on her 2015 album Have You in My Wilderness. However, in this track, the melodies are carefree and hazy, reminiscent of the 21st-century psychedelic sound of Animal Collective. Similarly, the song Spinning blends hydraulic beats and jazz flute, with a chorus that attempts but falls short of capturing the indescribable. A variety of sampled sounds and jazz-inspired elements maintain an intriguing atmosphere. Yet, the floating and undulating components lack the bold sensory overload of Aviary and the pop sensibilities of Wilderness. The standout track is Meyou, a stripped-down vocal meditation with a warped sound.
Source: theguardian.com
