What do ""Hikikomori,"" ""Ixode"" and ""Seekier"" have in common? Although at first glance it may seem as if there is no connection between these words, they are all songs on Zola Jesus's new album, Conatus.
Conatus, her third full-length album, was released on Oct. 4. The album can be defined as the ""will to live"" or the ""movement of the soul."" The album truly lives up to its name, as Zola Jesus, UW alum Nika Danilova, bares her soul, allowing listeners a peek into her innermost thoughts and
deep emotional displays.
Spin Magazine asserts that this album differs from her two previous albums because it does not appear as if she is making music for herself anymore. According to the magazine, it as if the songs on this album were produced for audiences and live performances.
Despite this critique, Zola Jesus is able to easily command the attention of the listener. Combining elements of classical, electronic, experimental rock and goth, she creates an 11 track album that is truly unique and leaves the listener eagerly waiting to hear what may come next. She seems focused on making music that is new and exciting and is not afraid to take risks to make a combination of sounds that is unforgettable.
The album begins with ""Swords."" Even though the song only spans a minute, it serves as a great introduction to the rest of the album. ""Swords"" combines slow, pulsing electronic music with limited vocal chanting that showcases both Zola Jesus' beautiful voice and her reliance on strong electronic influences.
""Swords"" easily flows into ""Avalanche."" The motif already established continues on, but now her voice is fully exhibited. Throughout the song, she opens her soul by daring to sing her inner thoughts, in this case, ""Is it all over?""
From here, the style makes an abrupt shift. ""Vessel"" has a heavy electronic feel. While this does showcase her wide range of musical talent in terms of style, at times her voice becomes over powered and both the beauty of her voice and the lyrics themselves get easily lost.
The fourth track is entitled ""Hikikomori."" In Japanese, this means an extreme and deliberate isolation. Once again, the musical style shifts. On this track, the musical emphasis is less reliant on the electronic feel, and instead revolves around the use of stringed instruments. The translation of the title could not be anymore accurate as evidenced by the lyrics. For parts of the song, Zola Jesus seems to be on repeat, with the lyric ""Oh, I go unheard"" becoming the most important part of the song. This line easily sums up the rest of the song, which is an outpouring of emotion regarding her feelings of isolation. Ending in the striking beauty of pure stringed instruments, it appears as if this feeling of isolation has gotten the best of her and she has completely given up trying to get the attention of the listener.
""Ixode"" is the album's fifth song. This song seems to be an almost counter-attack on ""Hikikomori."" Instead of feeling as if she is unheard, she pours all of her emotions into this track. The main lyric, ""I'm going to let it all go,"" accurately sums up this song. The song features an emotional surge on the chorus, with both the music and her voice gaining great strength and volume to clearly highlight that she is laying all her thoughts on the line.
""In Your Nature"" continues the trend of showcasing the wide range of musical style that Zola Jesus has mastered. Once again, the music has slowed and focuses on the stringed instruments. Underlying the song are little pieces of the goth style that Danilova adds to her music. This song perfectly showcases her truly exquisite vocals. Her tender side that has yet to be heard on the album is a perfect combination with the vocals.
A perfect way to end the album, ""Collapse"" accurately sums up the definition of Conatus. With this, Danilova has created a song that highlights her true vocal ability.
Once again, Zola Jesus provides a great album on Conatus. Although at times the experimental aspect of the music overpowers her true talent, this album is a musical treat.
Grade: B+
