As already suspected, the new Zola Jesus Record sounds like a Modern Pop/R&B record. This is quite a departure from Nika Danilova’s soulful tapping of the source inspirations of Gothic chanteuse Siouxsie Sioux via progenitors Nico and Julie Driscoll. Taiga is well produced, and I find myself enjoying moments in the tracks “Nail”, and “Lawless”, and “Long Way Down” (Damn, now I have that Goo Goo Dolls song of the Twister soundtrack stuck in my head!), Hollow, and “It’s Not Over”. Hmmm, I guess if the album had a b-side, it would be b for better. Yeah, I honestly question if a review of Taiga belongs on this website, as the record sounds not unlike a Rihanna album…sound familiar?
It’s not Taiga is a bad record, in fact it’s quite catchy, and perhaps it will garner mainstream success. It’s just an odd debut via her new label, the Daniel Miller’s legendary MUTE.
Stream the album here