Zola Jesus @ Toynbee Hall, Aldgate

At the forefront of the absurdly imagined ‘witch house’ genre Nika Roza Danilova’s operatic goth propensities more than live up to the hype for the launch of her much-buzzed about third album Conatus.

It is a queerly humid night as people are herded in and sat down at the sold out Toynbee Hall in Aldgate; an odd choice for a venue considering the highly-produced elements of Danilova’s work, which is as much mired in other-worldly electronics as her profoundly potent vocals.

Appearing on stage, blonde and pleated in a flowing white cape, Danilova is accompanied by an all male cohort of a cyber-geek backing band on a number of unfathomable keyboards, samplers and computer technics. The most comprehensible sound generation comes from the primal percussion on a minimal drum kit, which, along with Danilova’s voice, drives everything else along a line of eclectic, low-frequency energy.

There are some issues with the light projector to begin with–its graphic imagery employed to stand in for the lack of adequate in-house lighting –but, as she launches into new number ‘Hikikomori’, Danilova still manages an arresting stage presence, alone and under harsh light.

By the time her recognisable Stridulum II hit ‘Night’ rolls around the new aged-projection and blue light synergises with a significantly more confident Zola Jesus and her band at a performative peak. She impishly cavorts on (and off) the stage, throwing her tiny body at a PA as her microphone quivers under the flowing obscurity of a dyed blonde mane –her voice unwavering.

Although Zola Jesus has mapped out a career advancing into mainstream accessibility, she still retains some of the confrontational elements of her transgressive influences. Floundering off the stage and into stalking her seated audience at ground zero, a rare address to follow –beyond constant ‘thank yous’ –announces she’s actually “really nervous”.

Concluding on a sonic high, Danilova flies into a rhythmic frenzy as she takes a drumstick, beats her drummer’s high hat, throws it into the abyss and disappears as quickly as she appeared. Leaving nought but the promise of a young artist who is both remarkably talented and infinitely cool.