Watch: Julia Holter “World”

29 May 2013 — Lukas Dubro

The musical metamorphosis of Julia Holter continues. With her new song "World", put up last week, the musician abandons her ambient roots and strengthens the chamber pop elements that she introduced on her critically acclaimed album Ekstasis. The typically spherical soundscapes have been replaced with silence. Her very dry voice and a softly playing ensemble of all kinds of classical instruments and a choir is all we can hear. Since "World" is the opener of her third full-length, Loud City Song, you may guess that it will set the tone for the rest of the album. Fact is, unlike her first two albums, this time Holter didn't record her songs alone in her bedroom but together with Cole Mardsen Grief-Neill and a group of musicians, which already indicates that the piece will probably sound a lot different. That aside, "World" taken by itself sounds promising, making us count the days until the release of Loud City Song.

The album is out August 16 via Domino.