Zola Jesus, J.G. Thirlwell, MIVOS Quartet

Grandly orchestrated versions of highlights from the Zola Jesus back catalogue, arranged by none other than classically trained industrial survivor JG Thirlwell (aka Foetus, aka Manorexia). Conceived for a performance at New York’s Guggenheim Museum at the climax of her Conatus world tour, these tremulous string settings are really what Nika Roza Danilova’s tender but polished vocals have always been begging for, and the sensitivity and focus of Thirlwell’s charts, beautifully realised by the Mivos Quartet, convey bags of emotion without tripping over into mawkishness. Sure, it can’t help but be a little precious at times - this is Zola Jesus, after all - but fans will be in raptures when they hear new versions of old favourites like ‘Run Me Out’ and ‘Sea Talk’ - the latter transformed here from stormy, heartsick ballad into a fist-pumping, percussive anthem.