Zola Jesus is largely indebted to 80s icons like Kate Bush and the Cocteau Twins, but she’s recently come out with a cover of Rihanna’s recent (and sort of underwhelming) single, “Diamonds.” Her throaty wails have a lot more heft than those on Ri’s original take, while the instrumentation and effects are decidedly trippier, draping the mid-tempo anthem in gauzy atmospherics. As usual, one of the most intriguing aspects of ZJ’s vocal is how it manages to be so rough around the edges — and at times, even slightly out-of-tune — but also so potent and affecting. Those looking for a spot-on rendition of the more polished original might not like this goth-ier cover, but they’re missing out — the New York chanteuse continues to intrigue.
• Zola Jesus: http://zolajesus.com
• Sacred Bones: http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com
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