New Zealand-born and based artist Aldous Harding is set to release her fifth album, Train On The Island, on May 8. The 10-track album comes in collaboration with producer John Parish. The two have worked together across much of Harding’s musical career, on previous albums including Party (2017), Designer (2019) and Warm Chris (2022).
The forthcoming album highlights the artists ability to weave seemingly unexpected sounds and production techniques beneath her emotionally charged vocals, creating a cohesion amongst elements that would otherwise feel out of place. She’s able to utilise these sounds, textures and layers to craft a narrative, creating tension and vulnerability.
The album begins with the gentle opener “I Ate The Most” where we’re introduced to Harding’s incredibly raw vocals and self-awareness. She sings “everyday look up in my body, it’s heavy and heavier”, immediately setting the tone for the album; one of intense openness, introspection and ultimately inviting listeners sit within this vulnerability.
Harding utilises vocals and production throughout the album as a tool to tell her story. With breathy, clear vocals on “One Stop” shifting into a more relaxed and slurred tone when the guitar comes in. The piano on ‘Train on the Island’ follows her emotional narrative conveyed through her tone, whilst shifting between a conversational vocal style on “Worms” to a richer, deeper tone when the lyrics command.
As a pre-released single, ‘Venus in the Zinnia’ is a standout. H. Hawkline accompanying vocals bring the back and forth on this track to life. We clearly hear Harding’s inner monologue here, as she often does so well. She sings “I cut my hair, nobody loved it”. It feels almost like a dialogue between Harding and Hawkline’s internal thoughts, without directly conversing, and it flows seamlessly. The piano adds yet another layer, forming its own melody. It’s elements like this that recur throughout the album – moments that feel as though they shouldn’t work together, but Harding and Parish are able to create a cohesive synergy amidst the strange chaos.
The artist highlights this once again on “If Lady Does It” where Harding uses her voice in a stranger, more eccentric way, adding more character to the story. We hear how the singer can set the tone of a track with her vocal style, whilst also showcasing her rich and raw ability on tracks like “San Francisco” and “Riding That Symbol” as she shifts between her lower register and high falsetto.
“What Am I Gonna Do” is another standout, with rhythmic and eccentric undertones carried by captivating vocal harmonies. The production drops away, leaving only piano as she sings “What am I gonna do if I can’t break out of it, what am I gonna do if they can’t train me out of it?”. It’s as if in the midst of all the chaos, her inner monologue begins to second guess herself, before the beat returns to break that cycle.
If Harding’s ability as a songwriter wasn’t already clear in her previous works, this album highlights the emotion and raw vulnerability she’s able to convey in her writing, and the way herself and John Parish can shape the production to support it.
The album strikes the balance between chaos and control, finding intention in the unpredictability of sound and ultimately sharing a raw, authentic and vulnerable story with audiences.
This is a brilliant album for a more gentle and somber listen.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Train on the Island from Aldous Harding will be released this Friday, 8th May. You can pre-order and pre-save it HERE.
Aldous Harding Australia tour
Aldous wqill be touring in Australia in November. Head HERE for tickets
18th November – Melbourne Forum
19th November – Odeon Theatre, Hobart
22nd November – Enmore Theater, Sydney
23rd November – The Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Header image credit: Kate-Ellen-Meakin
