What makes Taiga by Zola Jesus notable?

Taiga received significant attention for its bold sonic experimentation, resulting in Zola Jesus reaching a wider audience and charting on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums. Critics noted this album as a pivotal moment in her career, showcasing her ability to merge art-pop sensibilities with introspective lyricism. By the time Zola Jesus released Taiga in 2014, she had already established herself with a strong presence in the dark wave scene, following her critically acclaimed album Conatus in 2011. Taiga marks her transition to a more expansive sound, incorporating elements of pop and electronic music while maintaining her distinctive gothic aesthetic.

Taiga works well if you're into steady mid-tempo atmospheric flow, haunting vocals for introspection and background soundscapes for focus.

How many songs are on Taiga?

Taiga has 11 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

Taiga

Zola Jesus · 2014

42 min · 11 tracks · pop music

Ethereal synths envelop haunting vocals in a landscape where darkness meets the vibrancy of pop melodies.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Dangerous Days — This track exemplifies the album's blend of ethereal vocals and driving beats, creating an urgent yet haunting atmosphere that encapsulates Zola Jesus's artistic evolution.
→
Hunger — With its pulsating rhythm and lyrical exploration of desire, 'Hunger' serves as a centerpiece that underscores the emotional intensity woven throughout the album.
→
Lawless — 'Lawless' showcases Zola Jesus's ability to interlace poignant lyricism with expansive soundscapes, highlighting her unique voice within contemporary pop and dark wave music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

Taiga blends ethereal soundscapes with pop sensibilities, showcasing Zola Jesus's evolution while maintaining her unique style.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that builds from sparse synths to layered vocals, establishing an atmospheric tone.
Several tracks feature dynamic shifts in intensity, such as 'Dangerous Days' which alternates between quiet verses and explosive choruses.
The use of reverb and echo on the vocals creates a haunting quality that complements the ethereal synth arrangements throughout the record.
The final track, 'It’s Not Over', revisits themes from earlier songs while introducing a more hopeful melody, providing a sense of closure.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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

steady mid-tempo atmospheric flow
haunting vocals for introspection
background soundscapes for focus
evening solitude with emotional depth
reflective moments of quiet tension

Maybe skip if you

seeking high-energy instant gratification
prefer upbeat, fast-paced tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: By the time Zola Jesus released Taiga in 2014, she had already established herself with a strong presence in the dark wave scene, following her critically acclaimed album Conatus in 2011. Taiga marks her transition to a more expansive sound, incorporating elements of pop and electronic music while maintaining her distinctive gothic aesthetic.
Stylistic neighbors: Bat for Lashes· FKA twigs· Grimes