Zola Jesus

Stridulum EP (Sacred Bones)

By Erin Lyndal Martin
Published: April 25th, 2010 | 7:00am

At barely 21, Nika Roza Danilova, aka Zola Jesus, is already reinventing herself. Her lo-fi full-length debut The Spoils garnered plenty of attention from the indie music press, but the new EP shows a wealth of maturity and development as an artist. An opera-trained singer, Danilova uses professional instruments and production techniques for the first time on Stridulum, making it her best release yet.

Stridulum's six moody songs are driven by Danilova’s ethereal vocals, evoking classic Cocteau Twins and the better moments of Siouxsie Sioux. Lyrics aren't her strongest point, but the words she chooses thrive in their delivery and musical context. Atmospheric synths build a fortress of sound that never wavers as pulsing beats push the music forward.

From beginning to end, Zola Jesus has created a wonderful set of songs that perfectly flow together, overwhelming you with their dark beauty.

Zola Jesus official Web site

Zola Jesus MySpace page

Sacred Bones Records