Aldous Harding ignited quite a flame at FRUK with her eponymous debut album, released over two years ago now. In his review, even Thomas Blake found it hard to pinpoint where the beauty in her music lay:
The greater power is hidden under the surface of the songs, and remains so, even on repeated listens. In fact, this is the kind of album that moves you in ways you can’t quite fathom. Sometimes, as a reviewer, you have to put your hands up and say, ‘I’m sorry. These songs are beautiful but I don’t know why.’
Her latest album Party, had the magic touch of John Parish (PJ Harvey, Sparklehorse) who produced the album in Bristol, a world away from her New Zealand home. Watch her recent appearance on Later… with Jools Holland which made a big impression, re-enforcing the belief that she resides in the dramatic realm where Kate Bush and Scott Walker reside.
As well as contributions from Parish, Perfume Genius’s Mike Hadreas also lends vocals to the aforementioned ‘Imagining My Man’ and album closer ‘Swell Does The Skull’.
Party is out now on 4AD
Aldous Hardin Live Dates
May 20 – L’Olympic Café – Paris, FR
May 21 – Huis 23 – Brussels, BE ll SOLD OUT
May 22 – Omeara – London, UK ll SOLD OUT
May 23 – Thekla – Bristol, UK ll RESCHEDULED NOVEMBER 24
May 24 – The Ruby Lounge – Manchester, UK
May 25 – Broadcast – Glasgow, UK
May 28 – Schellingwouderkerk – Amsterdam, NL
May 29 – Nochtwache – Hamburg, DE
May 30 – Auster Club – Berlin, DE
June 01 – Primavera Sound – Barcelona, ES
June 03 – 04 – Nelsonville Music Festival – Nelsonville, OH
June 05 – DC9 – Washington, DC
June 06 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
June 07 – Great Scott – Allston, MA
June 08 – Northside Festival, AdHoc & Brooklyn Vegan Present – Brooklyn, NY
June 10 – Northside Festival, Panache Booking presents – Brooklyn, NY
June 11 – Le Divan Orange – Montreal, QC
June 12 – Velvet Underground – Toronto, ON
June 13 – El Club – Detroit, MI
June 14 – The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL
June 16 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA
June 17 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA
June 19 – The Mohawk (inside) – Austin, TX
June 20 – The Monarch – El Paso, TX
June 21 – Hotel Congress – Tucson, AZ
June 22 – The Echo – Los Angeles, CA
June 23 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
June 24 – Swedish American Hall – San Francisco, CA
June 29 – Pah Homestead, Auckland, NZ ll SOLD OUT
June 30 – Pah Homestead, Auckland, NZ ll SOLD OUT
July 01 – Pah Homestead, Auckland, NZ ll SOLD OUT
July 12 ll Montreux Jazz Festival – Montreux, CH
July 15 ll Latitude Festival – Suffolk, UK
July 16 ll Citadel Festival – London, UK
July 19 – Valkhof Festival – Nijmegen, NL
July 20 – Iveagh Gardens – Dublin, IE*
July 22 – Sinsal San Simón – Sinsal, ES
July 27 – Underground Music Showcas – Denver, US
July 28 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT
July 29 – The Olympic – Boise, ID
July 30 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
July 31 – The Biltmore – Vancouver, BC
August 02 ll The Palomino – Calgary, AB
August 03 ll The Bartlett – Spokane, WA
August 04 – 06 ll Pickathon – Happy Valley, OR
August 11 ll Haldern Pop- Rees Haldern, DE
August 13 ll Ypsigrock Festival – Palermo, IT
August 17 – 20 – Green Man Festival – Brecon Beacons, UK
August 22 Il Hana Bi – Marina di Ravenna, IT
August 23 – Magnolia – Milan, IT
August 25 – 27 – Sea Change Festival – Devon, UK
August 30 – Perfect Sounds Forever – Bergen, NO
September 01 – End of the Road Festival – Wiltshire, UK
September 01 – 02 – Electric Fields Festival – Scotland, GB
November 01 – 02 – Iceland Airwaves – Reykjavik, IC
November 20 – Islington Assembly Hall – London, UK
November 24 – Thekla – Bristol, UK
* Supporting Belle & Sebastian