Julianna Barwick - Nepenthe [Review]

Julianna Barwick appeared in my ears while I listened to The Magic Place (2011). Comparing her to another emerging Avant-garde/Experimental artist Julia Holter makes me think of them as musical sisters. Julianna Barwick is the silent sister, the one who whispers her words while the music warp her tender voice with the exact harmonies needed. Nepenthe is a perfect night soundtrack, which make you imagine that angels voices are singing to you, a moment before you close your eyes. Its production is minimalist, yet impressive and Julianna's voice... Well... Try to listen, here are five samples of her albums, three of them from the later.

Album Rating: 8/10

The Harbinger (Nepenthe, 2013)


Envelop (The Magic Place, 2011)

Forever (Nepenthe, 2013)

Pacing (Pacing EP, 2013)

One Half (Nepenthe, 2013)

Mum

Mum could be the best Icelandic act in the world. They are experimental, using old and traditional music instruments to make wonderful-hazy music. This Experimental musical group has released seven albums so far but they are still less famous than Sigur Ros, the Icelandic phenomenon. Their seventh album, named Smilewound, was released last week. It exhibit the multi-instrumentalist collaboration of Electronic beats and traditional unconventional music instruments. It's not their best album so far, but it's worth listening to. For those of you who need deeper introduction, here are five songs from their albums.

The Ghosts You Draw On My Back (Summer Make Good, 2004)

Time To Scream And Shout (Smilewound, 2013)

Dancing Behind My Eyelids (Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy, 2007)

 

The Colorful Stabwound (Smilewound, 2013)

We Have A Map Of The Piano (Finally We Are No One, 2002)