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March 31, 2019 4:09 PM Subscribe
New Zealand musician Aldous Harding has released a new song The Barrel, from the forthcoming album 'Designer', due on 26th April. The accompanying video (directed by Martin Sagadin & Aldous Harding) is typically off-kilter. Interview on NPR.
Harding's earlier work can probably be best described as dark folk, with influences that include Nick Drake and Vashti Bunyan.
In 2017, Harding released a second album, Party, her most acclaimed to date, which showed the development of a unique musical aesthetic. Videos: Horizon, Imagining My Man, Blend (inspired by the playmate scene in Apocalypse Now), Swell does the Skull.
Harding's on-stage presence is both absorbing and uncomfortable, as seen in this memorable performance of Horizon on Later... with Jools Holland.
Harding's earlier work can probably be best described as dark folk, with influences that include Nick Drake and Vashti Bunyan.
In 2017, Harding released a second album, Party, her most acclaimed to date, which showed the development of a unique musical aesthetic. Videos: Horizon, Imagining My Man, Blend (inspired by the playmate scene in Apocalypse Now), Swell does the Skull.
Harding's on-stage presence is both absorbing and uncomfortable, as seen in this memorable performance of Horizon on Later... with Jools Holland.
That was a really interesting song. The video was also interesting but to call it "off-kilter" is doing it an injustice. That video was more like a horror movie.
posted by ashbury at 7:53 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ashbury at 7:53 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
I was already inclined to like her due to the fact that in the video for the Barrel she looks like she just wandered off the set of Holy Mountain. Then saw she's covered Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights as well as the British folk song The Trees They Do Grow High. Quite lovely. Really looking forward to discovering more of her work. Thanks for sharing.
posted by talking leaf at 12:05 AM on April 1, 2019
posted by talking leaf at 12:05 AM on April 1, 2019
Reminds me a little of similar undercurrents charted by Lambchop.
posted by progosk at 2:47 AM on April 1, 2019
posted by progosk at 2:47 AM on April 1, 2019
Oooh, Tiny Desk Concert.
Very nice, her songs also make me think of Cate LeBon.
posted by From Bklyn at 4:14 AM on April 1, 2019
Very nice, her songs also make me think of Cate LeBon.
posted by From Bklyn at 4:14 AM on April 1, 2019
I love The Barrel & its video. Thanks, pipeski, for posting it.
From Bklyn: re: Cate Le Bon, there is a connection in that Harding's main collaborator on her forthcoming album is H. Hawkline, who was formerly Le Bon's bandmate and partner.
posted by misteraitch at 6:01 AM on April 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
From Bklyn: re: Cate Le Bon, there is a connection in that Harding's main collaborator on her forthcoming album is H. Hawkline, who was formerly Le Bon's bandmate and partner.
posted by misteraitch at 6:01 AM on April 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
So glad to see Aldous Harding mentioned here. I think she is a flaming fireball of wondrous awesomeness. I think she's just getting started and what she will do/sing/perform/become in the future is going to be amazing. And her voice control is nothing short of epic.
I consider her song Party to be the single best thing I heard last year. I suspect it's about a man grooming a young woman, sung from the perspective of the young woman, and always draws me in like good poetry.
Her album Party on 4AD is a wonder to listen to, it is tense and open and flirty and creepy all at once. Much like Leonard Cohen's first album. Harding, like Björk Guðmundsdóttir, seems to be the kind of musician/artist who can surround herself with a rotating cast of other musicians and get them to do magical things.
So, yeah, I've been thinking a lot about her since I first discovered her mid-2018.
posted by the matching mole at 12:12 PM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I consider her song Party to be the single best thing I heard last year. I suspect it's about a man grooming a young woman, sung from the perspective of the young woman, and always draws me in like good poetry.
Her album Party on 4AD is a wonder to listen to, it is tense and open and flirty and creepy all at once. Much like Leonard Cohen's first album. Harding, like Björk Guðmundsdóttir, seems to be the kind of musician/artist who can surround herself with a rotating cast of other musicians and get them to do magical things.
So, yeah, I've been thinking a lot about her since I first discovered her mid-2018.
posted by the matching mole at 12:12 PM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
That is one admirable hat (and performance/song). Pray, does it come in black?
posted by Redhush at 4:08 PM on April 1, 2019
posted by Redhush at 4:08 PM on April 1, 2019
Her first album was one of the most wondrous discoveries of that year for me. I admit I haven't been as jazzed about everything since, as I live for that classic-model, Hannibal/Joe Boyd, minimalist vibe of the debut. But she's absolutely growing and pushing in leaps and bounds as an artist, and deserves all the exposure, support, and resources this world can muster.
posted by mykescipark at 7:09 PM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by mykescipark at 7:09 PM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Aldous Harding is the only person I've heard seriously unsettle John Schaefer on Soundcheck. She's really remarkable, and I love the new feel and lightness of tone in this song.
posted by taltalim at 10:05 AM on April 7, 2019
posted by taltalim at 10:05 AM on April 7, 2019
The Vashti Bunyan reference is spot-on - I don't know how I didn't hear it sooner (and I'm checking out Marissa Nadler as well now).
posted by taltalim at 10:16 AM on April 7, 2019
posted by taltalim at 10:16 AM on April 7, 2019
There's more fine headgear in her latest video: Fixture Picture.
posted by misteraitch at 1:37 PM on April 11, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by misteraitch at 1:37 PM on April 11, 2019 [2 favorites]
A good friend just sent links to two of her vids -- She's spectacular! It seems my friend knows me well.
It makes me happy to be alive just knowing that she is alive and doing what she is.
Isn't life grand?
I came here to make sure that she's been introduced to the site and here is this post, god be thanked.
Oh Ye MetaFilter !! Ye Misseth Not Too Very Much !! Or something....
posted by dancestoblue at 8:46 PM on April 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
It makes me happy to be alive just knowing that she is alive and doing what she is.
Isn't life grand?
I came here to make sure that she's been introduced to the site and here is this post, god be thanked.
Oh Ye MetaFilter !! Ye Misseth Not Too Very Much !! Or something....
posted by dancestoblue at 8:46 PM on April 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
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