My first exposure to Julia Gaeta came with Dreamwheel, her collaboration with Skeletonwitch/Cultist member Evan Linger, whose 2023 EP Redeemer I had the good fortune of reviewing for The Sleeping Shaman. She has also been involved in numerous other projects such as Madrigal, Albez Duz, Restless Ghosts and Light Of The Morning Star.
Blur Divine marks Julia's solo debut EP and sees her teaming up with Zola Jesus producer Alex DeGroot. The Paris based American musician grew up listening to a wide variety of genres, too many to list here, but all of which forge to create something potentially fascinating and which I for one am very much looking forward to indulging in.
'Harper's Song' features atmospheric Dream-Pop in a manner that recalls The Cocteau Twins at their ethereal best as well as the late, great Julee Cruise. The track seems ideally suited to soundtrack a David Lynch film (if he started making them again), who knows, maybe Gaeta will be his new creative musical muse, filling in the void left by the aforementioned Cruise and of course composer/arranger Angelo Badalamenti. A lush, beautiful start to the EP. 'Fragments of Pain' compared to its minimalist predecessor, is a more 'traditional' fuller sounding track that embraces the classy Synth-Pop of Depeche Mode but with the addition of sultrier Vocals, while the Guitar-work recalls vintage 80's New Wave ala The Cure. Furthermore the track is glazed with an outright Pop sensibility which, were Taylor Swift employing it, I'd be more inclined to become a 'swifty'. As it is I'm not, but I am enjoying what Julia has to offer instead.
'Blur Divine' is a little more Industrial flavoured and is imbued with a melancholic feel that recalls NIN's Downward Spiral era. Bear in mind though that this isn't Trent Reznor at his more abrasive or Ministry at their bludgeoning Thrash best, instead a far more subtle approach is utilized for the purposes of texture and ambience rather than outright in your face rebelliousness. Some parts even evoke the Trip-Hop of Tricky and Portishead, its that good. 'Hangin' on a Dream' is definitely inclined towards bands such as Joy Division and the sense of hopelessness and loss seems an all-consuming theme here. It's a heartbreaking track and as someone who has unfortunately experienced that sensation all too often, sadly relatable too. The latter part of the song takes you down a more undeniably danceable route which you may have found in London's Blitz nightclub during the early part of the 1980s; albeit with an updated contemporary vibe. Sheer sonic bliss. 'Weight of You' the EP's first single, featured an accompanying video that was filmed in the Paris neighbourhood of Pigalle, known for sex clubs and cocktail bars. Visuals remind one of directors such as Nicolas Winding Refn and his love of neon colour schemes and of course controversial director Gasper Noé'spsychedelic melodrama Enter the Void. Musically its inclinations are towards Goth-Rock as well as the eccentric Funky Art-Rock of bands such as Shriekback, especially their contribution to Michael Mann's Manhunter. All of this concludes the EP on a sexy, vampiric note and were Bohren & der Club of Gore ever to move in a poppier more accessible direction, they'd not sound overly dissimilar to what is heard here.
I don't have much else to add other than this is a truly spectacular release for fans of all things dark and catchy. If it sounds this good on record, I can only imagine that it will translate to something truly special live. Check it out, immediately, tout suite!
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