Zola Jesus - Lick The Palm Of The Burning Handshake

I first heard Zola Jesus on her Stridulum EP (2010) and it was one of those first listening experience that leaves an imprint. There is a plenty of junk called 'goth music' but the real thing still rips a strip of flesh off my back as it forces me to fall in love with it. The sun immediately sets, a grey wind blows, the world opens up in empty glory of endless winter landscapes and the human voice becomes an elemental force. Zola Jesus was the real thing.

Reading her wikipedia bio, Nika Roza Danilova (aka Zola Jeus) seems to have come by her gothic soul naturally. Her blood is Russian/East European, her childhood was in 100-acres of Wisconsin wilderness, she trained in opera, philosophy and French. The fact she was born in 1989 is a startling because she sings with the weight of the world on her shoulders - but then I remember how I felt during my early 20s and it makes sense.

This song has been looping in my head. I don't mind that because it blocks out the other head chatter with dark beauty.

LYRICS

I'm the only one that sticks around when they call your name out of a crowd.
And you say it don't hurt when I'm going alone, and you know It don't hurt, but I keep it strong
So I don't try to go and I just won't and you know

The need to know it takes you over
The need to grow it take you under
It bares the key to no resistance
To the listen again and again
It takes you over again and again

I'm the only one that makes a sound when I know the flame (plane?) is going down
When you say you don't see the red in my eyes - do you really want to bring the fire outside?
I don't want you to go, I close my eyes, I'll never show

The need to know it takes you over
Take you over........

Nice pick, I find myself liking her/?them?.