Aldous Harding - Train on the Island (2026)
I understand the craft behind it immediately, but the album keeps me at arm’s length the entire time. Everything feels carefully arranged, carefully performed, carefully strange — and after a while that control starts working against it.
The songs are more melodic than on some of her earlier records, but they still rarely arrive. They circle around emotions instead of fully committing to them. I keep waiting for tension to accumulate into something transformative, and it never really does.
What remains is mostly atmosphere and personality. The atmosphere is strong, but it becomes static because the emotional stakes stay too low. The eccentricity also starts feeling self-conscious after a while, like the performances are designed to preserve mystery instead of deepen expression.
I admire the precision of it more than I actually feel it. By the end, I’m left with isolated textures and gestures rather than a lasting emotional arc.
Pros
The atmosphere is very controlled → the album has a strong sense of space and aesthetic coherenceHer vocal identity remains unmistakable → even at its weakest, it never feels generic
Some melodies finally stick more than before → there are glimpses of stronger songwriting underneath the eccentricity
Cons
The album barely escalates → most tracks hover in the same restrained emotional zone without payoff
The emotional distance becomes frustrating → the performances feel mannered instead of necessary
Too much abstraction, not enough consequence → it creates intrigue but very little real emotional weight
Genre: Psychedelic folk
Country: New Zealand
Final Verdict: 58% (Forgettable Album)
Yearly Ranking: 342th / 385
Highlight: Coats
Made me think of:
Julia Holter
Weyes Blood
Cate Le Bon
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