Warm Chris. Aldous Harding

In 2019 it took me a while to warm to 'Designer'. In fact it wasn't until well into 2020 that I bought the LP and played it an awful lot. With Warm Chris announced, "a warned man counts for two", as we say over here. Listening to Aldous Harding singing with her inner child voice a lot did not scare me off. I did ask myself the question, am I going to get used to it? That question can be answered in the affirmative. I took about three session with Warm Chris. From that moment onwards I was convinced to listen to another strong new album in 2022.

Where the mood of Warm Chris is concerned, fans of 'Designer' ought to find their way around Aldous Harding's new album. Expect a more sober album though. The accompaniment is barer, more elementary. At the same time, each and every extra note played is in its right place. Exactly what makes Warm Chris so attractive to listen to.

Aldous Harding was born as Hannah Sian Topp and is from Lyttleton in New Zealand. Harding is her mother's family name. My introduction to her was through that record shop and label in New Zealand called Flying Nun, with her self-titled debut album. I never found my way into album number 2, 'Party'. (In hindsight I realise, it would be advisable to listen to it once again.) When the same happened to 'Designer', I had the idea, that this was it for me and Aldous Harding. What made me change my mind and even buy the LP, I can't remember. Sometimes I listen again or it comes by when my iPod changes to shuffle mode after some kind of bump causes the thing to do so. Some reason like that probably. The result was that truly anticipated Warm Chris' coming.

The album, to my ears, places itself on two extremes. On the one side it is extremely undercooled, on the other it has this inner warmth. As if Ms. Harding was not able to control her inner warmth and keep inside. The music is fully under control, her voice simply is not. She tries a times, but in the end fails and starts to show how much she cares about her songs, how proud she is of them, pointing it out with all the nuances her voice can muster. I'm sure every artist is proud of new work, on Warm Chris it shows even more because of these extremes. Like sun shining on ice.

The album starts with a strong set of songs. 'Ennui' immediately sets the stage for what is to follow. What you will hear is a piano with a drum behind it. Slowly but surely the song is built up to the first verse. It takes so little to convince and draw me into the album. 'Ennui' has a beautiful vocal melody and only needs a few notes on an electric piano to shine. The interplay is delicate yet determined. A saxophone plays what barely can be called a solo. 'Tick Tock' is a little darker, yet has the same sort of quality. Aldous Harding plays with the mood of the song by changing her voice, changing the darker mood to playful and back.

Living in Wales, she recorded the album there as well and again with John Parish as producer. In a review I read, but can't remember where, the reviewer concluded something like a beautiful album, were it not that Aldous Harding forgot to put herself on it. My only response to this can be, you better screw your ears back on. She's all over the album. She plays superiorly with her voice, not needing extravagant and elaborate music to make her (voice) shine. The music may be at a minimal level, besides being exactly right, it gives room for her voice. It plays with time, it plays with space and above all with the moods of Warm Chris. It is hard to truly know after being able to listen to the album for just a few days, but what I do know already, is that I like it a lot.

Warm Chris is a little universe on its own. It works on all accounts and contains several very strong songs. It took me some time but I have even taken a shine to single 'Lawn'. It totally falls into place on Warm Chris. At this point in time I can only finish with: "What an album"!

Wout de Natris