Jewellery cover

Jewellery

Mica Levi · 2009

52 min · 13 tracks · indie rock

A collage of fragmented melodies and dissonant rhythms intertwines with haunting vocals, creating an unsettling yet mesmerizing sonic experience.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Vulture — Opening with distorted vocal samples and jarring instrumentation, this track sets the tone for the album's chaotic beauty and thematic exploration of desire.
  • →
    Curly Teeth — This track features a playful yet dissonant arrangement that encapsulates Levi's ability to juxtapose childlike innocence with darker undertones, showcasing her unique compositional style.
  • →
    Guts / Hardcore — As the album's lengthy closing piece, it shifts dramatically between intense noise and serene moments, reflecting the emotional complexities woven throughout the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100
Treeline
Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

Jewellery's avant-garde approach and unique sound palette set it apart in the indie rock genre.

What we noticed

  • The album features a non-linear structure, with tracks often transitioning abruptly into one another without traditional verse-chorus forms.
  • Many tracks utilize unconventional instrumentation and production techniques, creating a collage-like effect that challenges standard melodic expectations.
  • Vocals are often layered and manipulated, contributing to an unsettling atmosphere rather than serving as the focal point of the songs.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • short bursts of unsettling energy
  • fragmented melodies demanding attention
  • haunting vocals for introspective moments
  • intriguing sound collages to explore

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer straightforward song structures
  • seek easily digestible tunes

Where this album fits

Career context
Jewellery is Mica Levi's debut album, released in 2009 when she was just beginning to establish her presence in the experimental music scene. This record followed her work with the band Curl, marking a significant shift towards solo artistry that showcased her innovative approach to composition and sound design.
Stylistic neighbors
Shabazz Palaces· Arca· Sonic Youth

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Vulture 2:49
  • 2 Lips 1:20
  • 3 Sweetheart 0:52
  • 4 Eat Your Heart 2:21
  • 5 Curly Teeth 2:26
  • 6 Golden Phone 2:43
  • 7 Ship 1:54
  • 8 Floor 1:23
  • 9 Just in Case 2:46
  • 10 Calculator 3:08
  • 11 Wrong 3:34
  • 12 Turn Me Well 2:57
  • 13 Guts / Hardcore 24:24

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata