Aviary

This 5th album by Holter, from Los Angeles, is an ethereal work of art. Think math rock, but translated into experimental pop incorporating a myriad of instruments, including keyboard, harp, violin, bagpipes, drums, and guitar. Each song sounds different and timeless. A line by writer Etel Adnan influenced the concept of memories flying around, as Holter wrote this album: “I found myself in an aviary full of shrieking birds.”
All FCC clean. Try Disc 1: Tracks 1, 2, 3, 7 + Disc 2: Tracks 5, 6.

RIYL: Saint Vincent, CocoRosie, Grimes’s first two albums, Marnie Stern

Disc 1:
*1) Turn the Light On - 4:16 – Booming medley of harp, keyboard, & percussion with POWERFUL vocals. Would make a great start to play on your show. Starts to fade at 3:58.
*2) Whether - 2:58 – Carnivalesque organ sound, staccato singing. False stops from 2:00-2:25.
*3) Chaitius – 8:10 – Sounds medieval, with strings, trumpet, bagpipes, & haunting “ah-ahh-aaaaahhhhs.” Dramatic change in tone at 4:50.
4) Voce Simul - 6:34 – Fluid plucks of harp, echoing vocals.
5) Everyday Is an Emergency - 7:45 – Cacophonous, shrieking woodwinds & bagpipes. False stop at 3:56 before transitioning to slow, brooding piano & quiet singing.
6) Another Dream - 6:07 – Layers of keyboard chords, heavenly vocals & chirping harp. Gets drone-y from 5:30 on.
*7) I Shall Love 2 – 5:18 – Romantic celestial beat. Tambourine, drums, violin & guitar too.

Disc 2:

1) Underneath the Moon - 6:49 – Theatrical, bouncy noises underneath poetic, chant-like vocals. False fade out at 4:32.
2) Colligere - 6:11 – Atmospheric violin & keyboard, & then halting vocals from 1:50 on.
3) In Gardens’ Muteness - 6:36 – Slow piano, hushed vocals.
4) I Would Rather See - 4:51 – Solemn, drawn out singing with sound of accordion (?).
*5) Les Jeux to You – 6:18 – Raspy piano, paired with a pop-y beat at times. Speeds up midway. Ends at 6:13.
**6) Words I Heard – 6:39- Absolutely beautiful & cinematic (albeit slow) from start to finish, across vocals, violin, & piano.
7) I Shall Love 1 – 5:09 – Thunderous bagpipes, maracas (?), piano, & chants of “I shall looovvee.” Abrupt end at 5:03.
8) Why Sad Song – 6:07 – Sparse piano chords, melancholy singing. Fades out at 5:46.