Julia Holter

Have You In My Wilderness

(Domino)

Across three albums released between 2011-13, LA-based Julia Holter built a reputation as a rather cerebral songstress, perhaps a little cold and elusive in her writing style. Here, however, that shell of intelligent art protects a pearl of beautiful pop, as Have You In My Wilderness emerges as absolutely one of the best albums of 2015. How Long, with its elongated vowels and Euro-languid vocal ("Do you know the proper way to ask for a cigarette?"), outdoes Lana Del Rey at her own wicked game, each syllable an exaggerated whisper of a breath. Vasquez, on the other hand, takes an acoustic double bass and shuffle-and-stumble drum beat as the basis for a mesmerising jazzy construction, as does Silhouette, although its sweet melody ultimately gives way to Kate Bush dramatics that show up Florence Welch as the overblown arena-circuit diva that she is. There's even a hint of Chvrches behind the harpsichord and angelic choir girl on Feel You, hinting at fresh commercial territory beyond Holter's established niche.

Alan Morrison