Much has been made of Nika Rosa Danilova’s formative years spent in the frigid north woods of Wisconsin, and the reflection of that upbringing in her music. The sparse, goth infused electronics of her two previous LP’s and other various studio work seem right at home in an enchanted forest, full of witches and demons and other dark creatures of make believe. However, since that time she has left the Midwest for the smog and sun drenched asphalt of Los Angeles. It would be easy to assume that Danilova’s work, which had always been indicative of location, would take on a California vibe. Surely it would only be a matter of time before she went chillwave. Right? Thankfully Conatus puts those fears to rest immediately. The haunting overtones are still there, maybe even more so this time around.

The strongest, and most obvious asset that Danilova has is an impressive set of pipes that are the main attraction throughout the album, and deserve mention with the other sirens of our era like Florence Welch and Adele. The various synths and drums that she conjures up serve only as the stark backdrop for her voice, and to add to the hypnotic and entrancing nature of these songs.

Conatus marks a distinct change for Zola Jesus, and the music she makes. This is pop music through and through, the shroud of darkness that covers everything only adds to her mystique. The aptly named "Avalanche" is a great pairing of a power charged beat and Danilova’s ethereally striking vocals, while
"Vessel" sounds like it was made using old, run down industrial machinery. With songs like "Ixode" and "Skin" she approaches a level of dreaminess akin to that of Elizabeth Frazer of the Cocteau Twins, and the classical opera training she received as a child comes through loud and clear on "Seekir" and "Lick the Palm of the Burning Hand".

This summer I was able to catch a brief snippet of Zola Jesus’ set at the Pitchfork Fest. Coming at the tail end of the second day, on the smaller third stage, her voice pierced the Chicago night and sounded so much more interesting and immediate than whatever it was that Fleet Foxes were rolling out on a much larger stage in front of a much larger crowd. In an interview with Spinner from last year she said, ‘I try to create songs that are really massive and intense, but at the same time remaining honest and raw’. With Conatus, she has clearly done this, making an ambitious album that oozes confidence, and will captivate the listener with its chilling beauty.

Grade: A-

Seekir by ZolaJesus