Description
Label Review.
2020 album. Electronic. Also available on Vinyl.
Our Overview.
American composer, vocalist and producer Julianna Barwick is an artist who crafts ethereal, sometimes wordless soundscapes, built around multiple loops and layers of her angelic voice. And her new album ‘Healing Is A Miracle’ marks another distinctive meditation on sound, reverb and the voice and also marks a debut album for Ninja Tune.
Built out from the same instinctive approach as those which preceded it, she also draws on the input of three talented collaborators: Jónsi (Sigur Rós), Nosaj Thing and Mary Lattimore, who gently nudge her out at the edges of her organically-evolved sound.
‘Healing Is A Miracle’, a press release explains sees Barwick drawing on "improvisation and a close affinity to a couple of trusted items of gear," while also taking in the input of three collaborators with whom she has built up close musical friendships over the years.
The album was recorded in the wake of Barwick's relocation from New York to Los Angeles and came about last spring when she sat down with her vocal looping set-up and began sketching out ideas for new solo material. It had been so long since I had done that," she says, "making something for myself, just for the love of it… it was emotional, because I was recording music that was just from the heart, that wasn't for an 'assignment' or project."
Barwick’s impressive live shows have gained incredible praise over the years on both sides of the pond, from the likes of The Guardian, The New York Times, NPR, Vice and more. She has further supported and performed with artists such as Bon Iver, Grouper, The War On Drugs, Sigur Ros, Sharon Van Etten, Flying Lotus, Angel Olsen, Mas Ysa, Nat Baldwin and more.
"Gorgeous & immersive on first listen & never loses its sparkle. She has tapped a vein of expression that is rich & powerful & affecting" - Pitchfork
"Her ethereal multi-tracked harmonies have the devotional quality of gospel choirs, and the oddball allure of Björk or Yoko Ono." - The New York Times
Julianna has toured the world and played on festival stages across the globe including Pitchfork Music Festival, Down The Rabbit Hole, Adult Swim, Way Out Festival, Moogfest, Le Guess Who?, End Of The Road, Green Man Festival, Sugar Mountain and more.
Tracklisting: Inspirit / Oh, Memory ft. Mary / Lattimore / Healing Is A Miracle / In Light ft. Jónsi / Safe / Flowers / Wishing Well / Nod ft. Nosaj Thing