Album Review

Julia Holter – Ekstasis

• 30th Nov 2012

After the ever intriguing Julia Holter, an American singer and songwriter, found herself with her EP Eating The Stars home recorded back in 2007, she moved onto Tragedy in 2011, before reaping her multi instrumental beauty into her second album Ekstasis and its re-issue this December through the signing of Domino.

As the title is taken from the philosophical meaning ‘to stand outside oneself’ this is a real creation that allows you to sit back and leave your mind to wander into realms of dream and fantasy. The feeling of being transported away from the real world is further enhanced by the inability to make full sense of Holter’s lyrics, but this does not detract from the listenability of this album as a whole. Perhaps the purpose of this album is to raise ambiguity and allow listeners to create enlightenment themselves.

Ekstasis opens with the slow paced Marienbad, featuring an eerie sound that picks up into a culmination of Holter’s true unique talent which echoes throughout each and every piece. With a heavy usage of atmospheric drones and angelic vocals Holter has been able to construct a pop type album without veering from her classical background and training. Each note flows effortlessly between soundscapes, though not necessarily always flawlessly, providing a sense of realism and determined progression.

It is apparent that Holter works to create ambience in Our Sorrows with the use of a slow rumbling bass perfectly entwined with chilling vocals, whilst the employment of demanding keyboard lines of In the Same Room mirrors the straightforward and upbeat rhythm of vocal melodies, both tracks emotionally contradicting each other with essences of empathy.

Midway lies Goddess Eyes II due to be released as a single on 10th December, a refreshing and inspiring piece coated with constant incantation. Similarly, Four Gardens features the very same enchantment as all of the above, though, this time, incorporating twinkly tonality which twists into an oriental lilt of wind instruments in an ebb and flow fashion. Finally, Ekstasis closes with This is Ekstasis, a crisp, yet simple compilation of haunting harmonies to finish the album off.

Though Holter takes on the qualities of a modern day Laurie Anderson, the added polish of young enthusiasm means she has kept a strong clasp on Anderson’s style whilst keeping true to herself. Take a listen to Ekstasis and you may be pleasantly surprised by what you’ve been missing.

Venue: Ekstasis
Support Band: Domino