Conatus

For her third album, Zola Jesus' Nika Roza Danilova sheds more of the dark, lo-fi trappings that marked early work such as The Spoils. Working with co-producer Brian Foote (Nudge) and the drummer from her live band, Nick Johnson, Danilova makes Conatus a crystalline, complex showcase for her vocal and composing prowess. Tracks such as the frosty single "Vessel" and "Seekir" flirt with synth pop, "Swords" and "Shimmer" lean toward experimental electronica, and "Avalanche"'s luminous organ returns to the basics of her music. Zola Jesus remains as demanding and fascinating as ever, even as Danilova's range expands.