I love this. Before, Julia Holter is a name that would not have rung a bell. But her album, Have You in My Wilderness is one of this year's standouts.
It's thoughtful. Right from opener "Feel You", you can tell this album is different. The compostions are complex. It's like nothing I've heard before. Holter swoons and croons her way through vague, personal stories. "Silhoutte" is dynamic, and the back-to-back of "How Long" and "Lucette Stranded on the Island" work especially well together.
Besides "Feel You", "Night Song" is a standout. I was reminded a lot of St. Vincent circa Actor, one of the finest hours for any indie artist in the past few years or so. Maybe perhaps the lengthy track "Vasquez" is one I could have done without, but that's a small qualm.
Holter's words sometimes blend into her instrumentals, but there's no doubt that this is an original sound. And really, these complex compositions need an additional shoutout. This fusion of drums, keyboards, and strings could've been a catastrophe, but Holter stands tall amidst controlled chaos.
It's called Have You in My Wilderness, but I'm grateful Holter's invited us into her wilderness.
8.5/10
8.5/10
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