From the get, the new Julie Hill sounds like a progressive, synth-heavy fantasy. Combining modern classical rhythms with dense timbre designs, their are elements of dance music and hard sophistipop. Hill's vocal delivery is Liz Fraseresque and the drum patterns are really elusive with exceptional production.
My mind wanders to Donna Summer/Giorgio Moroder, Gary Wilson and maybe even Gaucho era Dan, with a schmear of Gina X Performance and more disco like post punk. As the record progresses it becomes clear that Julie Hill is a very talented keyboardist and tunesmith with many clever chord changes and unpredictable melodies.
The song "Octave" is a stand out; crossing between Goblin and Chick Corea's Return to Forever and a unique style all Hill's own. Some tracks smoother than others, the dynamics of the rhythmic interplay betwixt instruments gives the tracks a powerful live sound, even though a track could contain numerous different synths or synth patches. Her lyrics are bold, modern, and effective.
Another standout is the track Cr(i). Seemingly a minimalistic cyber jaunt through a broken relationship with synthesizer work reminiscent of Stevie Wonder (or Tanto's Expanding Headband); specifically the Wonder track "You & I". "You don't need to get me down/to get high," Hill croons to the listener.
"Transcience", the first single, is a laid back, polyrhythmic jazz rock song. Video below::
"Avow" was by far my favorite song; a punchy and romantically critical song with exceptional keyboards and Julie Hill at quite a memorable vocal performance. It reminds me of Jazmine Sullivan and is more of a R&B swing for the jazz heavy record. The intricate and precise drumming by Steve Bartashav and exceptional guitar & bass work by Paul Millar throughout the record is really a hallmark to her overall sound.
"Unmade" is a fun song; almost a smooth homage to "Between the Sheets" by the Isley Brothers with a catchy clavichord synth patch to boot.
"Danse" is a fantastic disco jam with a groovy bassline and modular synth. "Work so hard in the city for time and money/work so hard in the country for milk and honey" she sings!
This record is definitely worth racing out and grabbing (like all the Galtta Media records are) for a smooth, good time on 4/20 (whatever that means). For fans of Steely Dan, Cocteau Twins, Isley Brothers, Black Moth Super Rainbow, and many other smooth, stylistically diverse, synthesizer heavy groups.
