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.
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
