7/10

With her eagerly-awaited new LP 'Call of the Yoni', Layla Kaylif constructs an immersive, symbolic passage that feels closer to ceremony than conventional songwriting. This is music that breathes in archetypes, speaks in metaphor, and unfolds with the deliberate pacing of something ancient being remembered rather than newly created.

From the opening moments of the title piece, there’s a palpable sense of invocation. Layers of textured instrumentation rise slowly, entwining traditional timbres with restrained electronic pulses, creating a space that feels both grounded and otherworldly. It’s here that the album establishes its central tension: the meeting point between the physical and the transcendent.

At the heart of the record lies ‘My Lover Is a Saint’, one of its most striking and intellectually rich compositions. Beginning with spoken passages drawn from the writings of Ibn Arabi, the track immediately situates itself within a lineage of mystical thought. As it unfolds, it mirrors the poetic intensity of the Song of Songs, where longing becomes something sacred, and intimacy transforms into a spiritual act. Kaylif navigates this terrain with remarkable sensitivity, allowing desire and devotion to blur until they are indistinguishable.

Elsewhere, ‘Night Journey’ emerges as a deeply psychological centrepiece. There’s a weight to it that captures the turmoil of transformation. It evokes the idea of a soul confronted with its own unravelling, hesitant to relinquish ego in order to become something more authentic. The track moves like a shadow crossing light, echoing a kind of internal reckoning that feels both intimate and universal.

Across the album’s seven-part structure, Layla Kaylif carefully maps a progression of emotional and spiritual states. Each piece contributes to an overarching exploration of identity, power, and reintegration; what it means to move through fragmentation and emerge whole.

Throughout its runtime, 'Call of the Yoni' demands attention, curiosity, and a willingness to engage with its layers. But for those who step into its world, the reward is truly profound.