Shifting moods and voices effortlessly, Harding is an often technically astonishing performer, and Party is a work of quiet power. An inviting, captivating darkness.
In a busy genre, Aldous Harding is a unique figure with a clear, singular musical vision and identity. Dark, unpredictable and compelling, ‘Party’ is an album that demands attention and any time given over to it is well invested.
Running to nine songs, the album features no missteps ... There is something both abstract and individual and yet universal about the way that Harding writes and presents her trials and triumphs of the heart.
On Party her songs are minimalistic, but they carry an emotional weight to which no one is able to stay indifferent.
For the most part ... this is a party for one, best enjoyed curled up with few distractions in the twilight hours. Sit, contemplate, and be absorbed into Aldous Harding’s spellbinding realm.
Party takes a few listens to truly unravel, and you'll find yourself discovering new quirks from Harding each time.
The different voices and inversions mean that, even though she operates within the broad confines of gothic folk, she has an air of unpredictability. This suggests that the listener is party to a talent at the very start of her creative life.
It’s an album that creates a very particular headspace of desire, paranoia and possibility.
Harding’s command of her craft is evident and worth witnessing on Party—and worth keeping an eye on in the future.
Party finds the sweet spot between raw and refined, and in doing so, feels very real.
original yet timeless. an instant classic. deep folk in the tradition of Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, and Anne Briggs. for me, best album of the year. any year. EDIT: after seeing her perform live, everything I think about this album and her talent is confirmed. it was astounding, and it rocked me to the depths. EDIT 2: named Rough Trade album of the year for 2017. so there.
As much as I enjoy and get a lot of feelings from the general style and direction of this album, I need to get used to her vocals. On my second listen and I will say the vocals have grown on me and the emotion is touching
Instrumentally this album is lovely and the stories she's telling on here are pretty captivating too, but I just don't really like her voice very much. Vocally it was a pretty flat record to me, she switches up her vocal tone and voice quite a lot on this album and whilst some have viewed that as a clever way of changing the atmosphere/tone of the song, to me it comes off as goofy and does nothing but break the momentum of these songs. Also some of these instrumentals were really drab and ... read more
Six years and this is still my favorite, songwritting and vocal performance are her strongest here.
Yeah I found this to be pretty stiff instrumentally and vocally, despite the evocative and profound storytelling that Harding provides. More than anything, it just bored me.
1 | Blend 2:29 | 92 |
2 | Imagining My Man 5:51 | 91 |
3 | Living the Classics 2:44 | 91 |
4 | Party 5:43 | 93 |
5 | I'm So Sorry 3:48 | 86 |
6 | Horizon 4:09 | 99 |
7 | What If Birds Aren't Singing They're Screaming 3:04 | 92 |
8 | The World Is Looking For You 5:08 | 84 |
9 | Swell Does the Skull 5:48 | 85 |
#1 | / | NZ Herald |
#1 | / | Rough Trade |
#4 | / | Gorilla vs. Bear |
#10 | / | MOJO |
#10 | / | NPR Music |
#12 | / | Loud and Quiet |
#16 | / | BrooklynVegan |
#16 | / | Double J |
#18 | / | The Skinny |
#21 | / | Les Inrocks |