Aldous Harding has just come off an amazing support slot with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds in Australia where she shone with her intense, immersive delivery and soaring vocals (see my review here). Today, she announces a new album entitled ‘Train On The Island’ via Flying Nun Records, Remote Control and 4AD, and provides a very tasty amuse bouche by way of the single ‘One Stop’.
Delivered over an ambulatory rolling sparse riff that becomes transfixing and hypnotising, Harding’s vocals are yearning and expressive, augmented by delicate harmonies. Acoustic guitars arise majestically as they jingle jangle in the background. The lyrics are mysterious and poetic:
I’m gonna write what I know
Kick around on the big brown
So the lies I tell send me up, and I can’t get down?
I’m wearing big grass to town
This is a delicious slice of brittle and delicate indie pop that fades away almost too soon, leaving you suspended in bliss. The accompanying video, shot and directed by Michelle Henning, is a simple performance piece filled with sunshine, Harding’s sinuous dancing immersive and expressive:
‘One Stop’ is out now and available to download and stream here and through the link below.
‘Train On The Island’ is out on 8 May 2026 and was co-produced by long-time collaborator John Parish (PJ Harvey, Dry Cleaning) at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, where the pair recorded the New Zealander’s previous bodies of work, Party (2017), Designer (2019) and Warm Chris (2022). You can pre-order below.
Feature Photograph: Kate Meakin
No Comment