Something in the Room She Moves

“Something in the Room She Moves” Julia Holter
Reviewed by Jim Leney (aka “Lenny Britt”)
2025-02-01

This is Julia Holter’s sixth studio album. At times she reminds me of Kate Bush, especially with the high voice. She gets very experimental a la Peter Gabriel, early Genesis or maybe even Yes. She takes on different sonic journeys throughout the album, some more melodic than others. Some are discordant. I wouldn’t say that any songs really have a conventional structure. At low volume many of the songs might be spa music, almost.

FCC: Clean
Recommended: 2,3,6,8

(5:53) Sun Girl – trippy, experimenting with rhythms, discordant with flutes, birds chirping, heavy bass, and no particular time signature. Some parts are very ethereal. Vocals are used for repetitive percussion of sorts.
(3:49) These Morning – Melodic piano, soft saxophone. Sweet vocals to create the soundscape, chanting “Just lie to me, just lie to me”.
(6:18) Something in the Room She Moves – relaxing sonic journey with sax and flute popping in.
(3:08) Materia – only vocals and keyboard, with pausing and no clear time signature.
(5:55) Meyou – international flavor, perhaps middle-eastern with (almost chanting) vocals but not words. It suggests the soundtrack for a spiritual awakening or perhaps a birth or death.
(6:14) Spinning – a fuller sound than other tracks starting with rhythmic bass and percussion before Julia adds her more harmonic vocals
(5:38) Ocean – synthesized sounds like the depth of the ocean or floating in space and emoting the sadness of loneliness perhaps.
(6:25) Evening Mood – starts out with spa-like music and harp sounds before the vocals join and the song picks up. It strikes a more upbeat mood than the album as a whole. Flutes and bass chime in mid-song.
(6:52) Talking to the Whisper – starts with sound that reminds me of birds chirping and wind chimes and then moves into a saxophone journey
(3:39) Who Brings Me – only vocals and slow keyboards and a hint of flute or synthesized flute-like sounds. Picks up slightly with a faint sax at the end to finalize the album.