Sporting a level of strength that will power the likes of “Bonesaw” and “Pornstar” out of the speakers and into a nocturnal backdrop of the darkest strain like nothing else possibly could have, to say that the vocal DEVORA offers us in her new EP God is Dead is potent wouldn’t be doing it justice. When she takes the microphone in her hand here, DEVORA bursts through the silence like a blazing fireball cutting into pure tinder from the moment we press play on God is Dead to the second its fleeting warmth disappears into the darkness from which it was originally sprung, and while it’s easily one of the more bewitchingly gothic pop records I’ve sat down with in the last month, I believe this was necessary to construct the identity-affirming work this EP inevitably becomes by the time we listen to all four of its songs.
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The title track in God is Dead, as well as “Wild West” and “Pornstar,” lusts after an implied hook as if to find an alternative route of relishing the darkness existing all around them, while “Bonesaw” seems to have been designed to overwhelm us with anti-catharsis quite deliberately. The conflict that this intriguing collection of songs creates is essential to highlighting what makes DEVORA so good at her job, and though uniting the pop elements in her music with the more gothic without giving herself over to the predictable alternative rock and post-punk clichés we all loathe couldn’t have been easy, it doesn’t sound like rocket science when listening to the way she goes about her business in this tracklist.
DEVORA’s poetic angle could be interpreted as a deeper desire to have a commentary about the emotionality of a specific subject or aesthetical theme within her music, but I don’t like to overanalyze an artist of her obvious depth too much. In her lyrics, there’s as much simplicity as there is an implied postmodernity that is both intellectually stimulating and creatively unique, which doesn’t make a song like “Pornstar” perfect. It’s never been easy making something radio-friendly and true to the personality of an artist, but this is a singer/songwriter who doesn’t need any help figuring out who she is or what kind of music she wants to be known for.
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If there’s one pop EP you need to hear this mid-winter season more than any others, it’s unquestionably DEVORA’s smashing God is Dead, which feels as important as many of the best-selling pop albums out right now do. DEVORA didn’t pick a convenient time to enter the spotlight, but while the competition is thick she doesn’t excuse herself from giving a landmark performance in God is Dead worthy of some attention from critics and fans alike this month.
I’m very intrigued by her artistry and personally can’t wait to hear what’s next, especially if she’s able to do even more with the goth influences she’s showcasing in rather small doses throughout this record. Time will tell us for certain, but I’ve got a feeling we’re going to hear a lot of quality content from this player in the future.
Jodi Marxbury