Julia Holter
Aviary
[Domino Records]
An album approaching ninety minutes is both unorthodox and overwhelming.
When said record falls under the avant-garde and baroque-pop umbrella, it’s understandable for the listener to be tentative.
Aviary, however, by composer and multi-instrumentalist Julia Holter, enthralls audiences from the get-go with ferocious strings and sprawling vocal lines on opener Turn the Light On through to the beautifully minimal instrumentation on the introspective closer, Why Sad Song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKQirZe6_CI
Heralding similarities, at times, to the eccentricities of Broadcast and Björk, Holter continues to deconstruct convention on her enchanting fifth studio album.
Words: Zara Hedderman
