13.13

Her vocals seem to span endlessly throughout each song in relentless discomfort, an aching shrill with no release in sight. By the end of the album it makes you feel totally worn out.

In classic No-wave fashion, and one of the strongest things about the genre, 13.13 thrives in a sprawlingly repetitious sound that only builds further and further until the final track which is 7 minutes long. It feels intentional, like Lydia wants you to feel just as tired as the way she's singing, and it works! I find it so impressive that she was able to make her vocals come off as strong as they do considering how monotonous they are.

The last 3 tracks really nail in the repetition and are the strongest part of the album. "Lock Your Door" especially is a great example of how No-wave and Lydia masters the art of repetition. The songs sound so tired yet trudge along regardless. In a weird way, its kind of comforting in that aspect. Reminds me of being sick and the whole doom and gloom of it. You are constantly looking for ease amongst the discomfort, which is the epitome of this record. A sound that in theory, shouldn't sound as good as it does on 13.13; however, Lydia really drives it home, along with the strange Post-punk/Gothic rock sound she captures on this.

If you enjoy No-wave or any Gothic music, 13.13 is definitely worth your time! This record needs more eyes on it, an overlooked gem imo. A fitting evolution from her early work/vocals on her first album, Queen of Siam. Impressive!