Aldous Harding is preparing to release her fifth studio album, ‘Train On The Island,’ on May 8th. The Modern Zealand singer-songwriter’s latest work, a follow-up to the critically acclaimed ‘Warm Chris’ released in 2022, promises another exploration of her uniquely atmospheric and introspective sound. Pre-orders for the album are now available in CD, standard black vinyl and a limited-edition blue vinyl format on Bandcamp.
The first single from ‘Train On The Island,’ titled “One Stop,” offers a glimpse into the album’s sonic landscape. Described as stripped-back and enigmatic, the track centers around a singular piano motif and Harding’s signature multi-tracked vocals, creating a wiry and captivating atmosphere. A music video for “One Stop,” directed by Michelle Henning, accompanies the single’s release.
‘Train On The Island’ was co-produced with long-time collaborator John Parish, known for his work with artists like PJ Harvey and Dry Cleaning. The recording sessions took place at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales – a location familiar to Harding and Parish, having previously hosted the creation of her albums ‘Party’ (2017), ‘Designer’ (2019), and ‘Warm Chris’ (2022). The album features contributions from pedal steel player Joe Harvey-Whyte, harpist Mali Llywelyn, and synth artist Thomas Poli, among others as reported by Rolling Stone Australia.
The tracklist for ‘Train On The Island’ is as follows:
- ‘I Ate The Most’
- ‘One Stop’
- ‘Train On The Island’
- ‘Worms’
- ‘Venus In The Zinnia’
- ‘If Lady Does It’
- ‘San Francisco’
- ‘What Am I Gonna Do?’
- ‘Riding That Symbol’
- ‘Coats’
Harding will be extensively touring in support of the album, following an initial announcement of UK, European, and North American dates in January. Due to high demand, a third night at London’s Barbican has been added to the schedule for May 31st according to NME. Tickets for all shows are currently available.
The tour begins on May 25th at the Brighton Dome and includes stops in Southampton, Cambridge, Bristol, Glasgow, Dublin, Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham before the London dates. Harding will then move on to Europe before commencing the North American leg of the tour, starting in Philadelphia on September 9th and concluding in Los Angeles on September 30th.
Harding previously performed two sold-out shows at the Barbican in 2023 while touring behind ‘Warm Chris,’ an album praised by critics for its sparse instrumentation and deliberate arrangements. NME awarded the album four stars, noting its ability to “gently disorientate” and reward listeners who embrace its unique strangeness.
Beyond her solo work, Harding recently collaborated with Sleaford Mods on their January single, “Elitest G.O.A.T.”, demonstrating her willingness to explore diverse musical partnerships.
With ‘Train On The Island,’ Aldous Harding continues to refine her distinctive artistic vision, offering a compelling and enigmatic addition to her already impressive discography. The album’s release and subsequent tour promise to be significant events for fans of her introspective and atmospheric music. The next step will be seeing how audiences respond to the full album when it arrives in May.
What are your initial thoughts on the single “One Stop”? Share your reactions and anticipation for ‘Train On The Island’ in the comments below.
