While the voice of Julia Holter wonderfully emotive, it's the music on Materia which makes this new record so compelling. Blending synths, loops, and, of course, her voice, Holder crafts a truly immersive listen on Materia.
Opener "The Laugh is in the Eyes" is a stunner. There's a slap-bass here like a Mick Karn effort, synths, multitracked vocals, and a rich mix. The dreamy "My Lost One is moodier still. Fans of Julee Cruise will likely love this, and one can imagine Laurie Anderson acolytes finding pleasures that suit their tastes as well. The epic-length "My Twin" mixes a nearly-ambient use of keyboards with sampled vocals, and a reverb-heavy approach. It's precise and any few seconds of this could be taken out of context and compared to portions of the back-catalogues of Suzanne Cianni, or Jane Siberry, or even Enya. Still, it's a bracing work and one which elevates this whole record.
Julia Holter has a unique touch. The material here on Materia can be approached from an ambient angle, and from a post-rock one. The textures, rich production, and precision are qualities that make Materia worth your time this week.
Materia by Julia Holter is out now via Domino.
[Photo: Dicky Bahto]