Party (Aldous Harding album)

Last updated

Party
Aldous Harding - Party.png
Studio album by
Aldous Harding
Released19 May 2017
StudioJ & J Studio, Bristol
Length38:44
Label
Producer John Parish
Aldous Harding chronology
Aldous Harding
(2014)		Party
(2017)		 Designer
(2019)
Singles from Party
  1. "Horizon"
    Released: 10 February 2017
  2. "Imagining My Man"
    Released: 29 March 2017

Party is the second studio album by New Zealand folk singer-songwriter Aldous Harding, released on 19 May 2017 by 4AD. [1] The album was recorded in Bristol with John Parish, who produced the album, and features contributions from Parish, Fenne Lily, and Mike Hadreas.

Contents

The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2017 New Zealand Music Awards. [2] It was also nominated for IMPALA's European Album of the Year Award. [3]

Release

"I'm So Sorry" was premiered through The 405 on 17 March 2016. [4]

"Horizon" was released as a single on 10 February 2017 with an accompanying music video directed by Charlotte Evans. [5] The album was detailed the same day. [6]

"Imagining My Man" was released as a single on 29 March 2017 with an accompanying music video, also directed by Charlotte Evans. [7]

A music video for "Blend" was released on 12 June 2017, also directed by Charlotte Evans. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.7/10 [9]
Metacritic 83/100 [10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The A.V. Club B [12]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Exclaim! 8/10 [14]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
The New Zealand Herald Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [19]
Uncut 8/10 [20]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 83, based on 11 reviews. [10]

Kitty Empire of The Observer gave Party a positive review, commenting, "Harding is her own woman, an arresting vocalist whose mannered deliveries – from chanteuse to jazzy – and intense themes defy obvious influence." [17] Rob Mesure of musicOMH praised the album, saying, "Shifting moods and voices effortlessly, Harding is an often technically astonishing performer, and Party is a work of quiet power. An inviting, captivating darkness." [21] Haydon Spenceley of Drowned in Sound gave the album a favourable review, saying, "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." [22] James Christopher Monger of AllMusic said, "Party finds the sweet spot between raw and refined, and in doing so, feels very real." [11]

Jon Pareles of The New York Times said "her exposed voice is riveting, changing character from song to song. It’s piping and childlike in "Party," while it's low and poised in "Imagining My Man" except for sudden, vehement interruptions: "I do not have the answer," she cries with cutting dissonance." [23]

Kelsey J. Waite of The A.V. Club described the album as evidence of Harding's "command of her craft" but lamented that "the fantastic background experimentation, bleating wind instruments, and appearances by Mike Hadreas (Perfume Genius) are ultimately too slight to lend the record much in the way of dynamics." [12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Aldous Harding

No.TitleLength
1."Blend"2:29
2."Imagining My Man"5:51
3."Living the Classics"2:44
4."Party"5:43
5."I'm So Sorry"3:48
6."Horizon"4:09
7."What If Birds Aren't Singing They're Screaming"3:04
8."The World Is Looking for You"5:08
9."Swell Does the Skull"5:48
Total length:38:44

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes. [24]

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP) [25] 149
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [26] 6

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfume Genius</span> American musician

Michael Alden Hadreas, better known by his stage name Perfume Genius, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Hadreas's music explores topics including sexuality, his personal struggle with Crohn's disease, domestic abuse, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society.

<i>The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets</i> 2014 studio album by Marmozets

The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets is the debut studio album by the English alternative rock band Marmozets. It was released by Roadrunner Records on 29 September 2014. The album was very well received by music critics, receiving a 9/10 score from Metal Hammer upon release, and winning the Kerrang! Award for Best Album in 2015. In July 2016, Metal Hammer placed the album 70th in their list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century so far.

<i>The Great Pretenders</i> 2015 studio album by Mini Mansions

The Great Pretenders is the second album by Los Angeles band Mini Mansions. It was released on March 23, 2015. The album cover alludes to the cover of the Voyager Golden Record.

<i>+ –</i> 2015 studio album by Mew

+ − is the sixth studio album by Danish alternative rock band Mew. It was released on 24 April 2015. The album was produced by Michael Beinhorn and was promoted by the singles "Satellites" and "Water Slides". It was Mew's first studio album in five-and-a-half years, following their 2009 record No More Stories.... Bassist Johan Wohlert made his return on this album after being absent from the band's previous album following his departure in 2006. + - was also the final album to feature guitarist Bo Madsen, who left the band on 1 July 2015, as well as the final album to featured original formation.

<i>Escape from Evil</i> 2015 studio album by Lower Dens

Escape from Evil is the third studio album by Baltimore indie rock band Lower Dens. It was released in March 2015 under Domino Recording Company's Ribbon Music label. It was produced by the band's lead singer Jana Hunter and Chris Coady.

<i>Venus</i> (Joy Williams album) 2015 studio album by Joy Williams

Venus is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Joy Williams. It is her first album since the 2014 breakup of The Civil Wars and her first solo album outside of the contemporary Christian music genre.

<i>Algiers</i> (Algiers album) 2015 studio album by Algiers

Algiers is the debut album by American experimental band Algiers. The album was released through Matador Records on June 2, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U Don't Know Me (Basement Jaxx song)</span> 2005 single by Basement Jaxx

"U Don't Know Me" is a song written and produced by English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. The Bellrays' lead singer Lisa Kekaula, who has previously appeared on Basement Jaxx's 2004 single "Good Luck", also co-wrote and contributed the song's main vocal. "U Don't Know Me" was described as a rock song with "kiss-off" lyrics that were similar to "Good Luck". On 13 June 2005 XL released the track as the second single from their greatest hits album The Singles. Later editions of the compilation replaced the album version with the "JaxxHouz Radio edit" which was also featured in the song's video.

<i>Dont Weigh Down the Light</i> 2015 studio album by Meg Baird

Don't Weigh Down the Light is the fourth studio album by folk singer Meg Baird, released in 2015 on the Wichita label in the UK and the Drag City label in the US.

Haydon Spenceley is an English Christian musician and worship leader, who plays a Christian pop and EDM style of worship music. He has released three studio albums: Circles (2008), Heart Strings (2010), and Mirrors (2014).

<i>Visuals</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Mew

Visuals is the seventh studio album by Danish alternative rock band Mew. It was released on 28 April 2017. First single "85 Videos" was released together with a music video on 16 February. It is the first Mew album not to feature guitarist Bo Madsen, who left the band after their previous album, + -, was released in 2015.

<i>Beings</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Lanterns on the Lake

Beings is the third studio album by British indie band Lanterns on the Lake. It was released 13 November 2015 under Bella Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldous Harding</span> New Zealand folk musician

Hannah Sian Topp, known professionally as Aldous Harding, is a New Zealand indie folk singer-songwriter, based in Lyttelton, New Zealand.

<i>No Shape</i> 2017 studio album by Perfume Genius

No Shape is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Perfume Genius, released on May 5, 2017, through Matador Records as the follow-up to Too Bright (2014).

<i>Rocket</i> (Alex G album) 2017 studio album by Alex G

Rocket is the seventh studio album by American musician Alex G, released on May 19, 2017, through Domino Recording Company.

<i>Make Way for Love</i> 2018 studio album by Marlon Williams

Make Way for Love is the second studio album by New Zealand musician Marlon Williams. It was released 16 February 2018.

<i>You Wont Get What You Want</i> 2018 studio album by Daughters

You Won't Get What You Want is the fourth and final studio album by American rock band Daughters. It was released on October 26, 2018, through Ipecac Recordings, and is the band's only album since their 2013 reformation.

<i>Designer</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Aldous Harding

Designer is the third studio album by the New Zealand indie folk singer-songwriter Aldous Harding, released on 26 April 2019 by 4AD. The song "The Barrel" won the 2019 APRA Silver Scroll award.

<i>Warm Chris</i> 2022 studio album by Aldous Harding

Warm Chris is the fourth studio album by the New Zealand indie folk singer-songwriter Aldous Harding, released on 25 March 2022 by 4AD. The album peaked at number-one on the New Zealand Albums chart. Its release was preceded by two singles, "Lawn" and "Fever". Two subsequent singles from Warm Chris, charted on the New Zealand Hot Singles Chart, with "Tick Tock" peaking at No. 31, and "Ennui" peaking at No. 40.

References

  1. ↑ Flanagan, Andrew (19 May 2017). "The Story Of Aldous Harding's 'Party,' Track By Track". NPR . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2017". Radio NZ. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "22 acts in the running for best European independent album". 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Pepperell, Martyn (17 March 2016). "Aldous Harding shares new song 'I'm So Sorry' [405 Premiere]". The 405 . Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  5. ↑ Boilen, Bob (10 February 2017). "First Watch: Aldous Harding's Elegant Video For The Haunting 'Horizon'". NPR . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  6. ↑ Day, Laurence (29 March 2017). "Aldous Harding details second LP Party, shares Perfume Genius-featuring track "Imagining My Man"". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  7. ↑ Stoneback, Stephanie (29 March 2017). "New Zealand Folkie Aldous Harding Is On The Cusp Of A Breakout With 'Imagining My Man'". UPROXX . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  8. ↑ O'Connor, Samantha (12 June 2017). "Aldous Harding reveals war film-inspired 'Blend' video". The 405 . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "Party by Aldous Harding reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Reviews and Tracks for Party by Aldous Harding". Metacritic . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  11. 1 2 Monger, James Christopher. "Party – Aldous Harding". AllMusic . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  12. 1 2 Waite, Kelsey J. (19 May 2017). "Aldous Harding's beautiful but stark Party is one worth attending". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  13. ↑ Johnson, Eugenie (19 May 2017). "Aldous Harding – Party". DIY . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  14. ↑ Yuyitung, Matt (21 May 2017). "Aldous Harding: Party". Exclaim! . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  15. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (18 May 2017). "Aldous Harding: Party review – an eerie carnival of passion and paranoia". The Guardian . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  16. ↑ Fenwick, George (25 May 2017). "Album review: Aldous Harding, 'Party'". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  17. 1 2 Empire, Kitty (21 May 2017). "Aldous Harding: Party review – New Zealander's hypnotic second album". The Observer . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  18. ↑ Segal, Victoria (July 2017). "Aldous Harding: Party". Q . No. 373. p. 108.
  19. ↑ McGuinness, Paul (July 2017). "Aldous Harding – Party". Record Collector . No. 468. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  20. ↑ O'Connell, Sharon (June 2017). "Aldous Harding: Party". Uncut . No. 241. p. 30.
  21. ↑ Mesure, Rob (21 May 2017). "Aldous Harding – Party". musicOMH . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  22. ↑ Spenceley, Haydon (30 May 2017). "Album Review: Aldous Harding – Party". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  23. ↑ Pareles, Jon (17 May 2017). "Aldous Harding's Songs Won't Be Pinned Down. Nor Will Her Voice". The New York Times . Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  24. ↑ Party (Liner notes). Aldous Harding. Flying Nun Records. 2017. FN575LP.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Aldous Harding – Party". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  26. ↑ "Charts.nz – Aldous Harding – Party". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.