Song: Julianna Barwick – Inspirit review

by Philip Moss

There’s something about Julianna Barwick’s music that is absolutely perfect for the situation the world has recently found itself in. So much so that her Nepenthe and Want LPs have been my most common go-tos over the last nine weeks. So on spotting that she was teasing a new record through a series of Instagram posts, there was more than a hint of excitement about the Louisiana native’s first full length collection in four years.

That output materialised as Inspirit – which will also appear as the opening track on the upcoming album, Healing is a Miracle. As we have come to expect from Barwick, Inspirit flows with cascading, indecipherable vocal loops, and is more sound collage than song. A rumble of electronic fuzz bass enters at the midway point, but does not disturb the crystalline ambience. Barwick has been making soundtracks to get lost in for a decade now: simply put, Inspirit is no different.

Having left previous label, Dead Oceans, Healing is a Miracle will be Barwick’s first release through Ninja Tune on 10th July – and sees her collaborate once more with Sigur Rós frontman, Jonsi, as well as Mary Lattimore and Nosaj Thing.

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