Similar to Eurythmics' Julia?

October 30, 2012 11:20 AM

Can anyone recommend songs similar to (and possibly less "mainstreamy"* than) Eurythmics' Julia?

I'm looking for recommendations for songs similar in style, feel and arrangement to Julia by the Eurythmics. In other words, slow, ballad-type songs with no percussion (I know, there are hand claps). I especially like how the song begins, with the very sparse, quasi-a-capella arrangement.

*Meaningless, I know, but I would appreciate recommendations that lean a little more toward the unusual & experimental end of things.

posted by univac to media & arts (6 answers total)

This violates your 'no percussion' rule, but perhaps Washed Out's Feel it All Around?

Also, maybe Oneohtrix Point Never - Returnal?
posted by googly at 11:40 AM on October 30, 2012

Returnal - if the instrumentation were less rhythmic - would be nearly exactly what I was imagining.

I actually have the 7" but didn't think of it.

So, to refine the question - more stuff like Returnal but with less rhythmic instrumentation?
posted by univac at 11:47 AM on October 30, 2012

Long shot, but something about Julia reminds me of Julee Cruise's Summer Kisses Winter Tears
posted by kuppajava at 11:58 AM on October 30, 2012

Maybe some Nico? Specifically off the Desertshore album. Afraid, My Only Child

If you can handle a wee tiny bit of percussion (generally brushed drums or cymbals), Coastal might fit the bill. Typically, they have a male/female duet going; youtube seems to only have stuff from their second album, which is slightly more percussion-free. Eternal, Drift

Keren Ann - Nolita (gets pretty avant-garde towards the latter half)

Mazzy Star - maybe a bit more folk-y than you're looking for - Into Dust, All Your Sisters

And then there's Enya, which may be a little too far off the New Age edge.
posted by LionIndex at 1:46 PM on October 30, 2012

OK, now this might be too ambient, but how about the track 1/2 off of Eno's Ambient 1?
posted by googly at 5:39 PM on October 30, 2012

Tagaki Masakatsu - Ceremony.
posted by misteraitch at 4:24 AM on October 31, 2012