Austra - HiRUDiN (Review)
An excellent entry into 2020's experimental, pop, indie and electronic scenes...
1st May 2020
Domino
My Rating:
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8.4
/10
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REVIEW
HiRUDiN is the fourth studio album from the Katie Stelmanis-centred group Austra, a project that's never quite been pioneers of any sound but have always provided a worthwhile and usually excellent take on various styles. On this new album of theirs, it does seem like they've taken a lot of influence from artists like Weyes Blood, Rosalía, and Bat For Lashes, the latter of which has always been a major influence on their sound.
Opening things up with a FKA Twigs-esque vocal performance that's paired with ominous, shifting yet minimalistic synth chords, the first track "Anywayz" transitions beautifully into a positivity anthem desperately needed in a year as bleak as this. One element of the track that never fails to grab me is the mastery of spacing, never letting any one of the song's instruments to dominate the mix, all whilst giving each element their time to shine, but to shine without stealing the show. Of course, Austra's vocals are no exception, having their own moments both in the intro and in the chorus, and what a performance she gives! This is easily the album's standout moment, but that isn't to say it has nothing else to give.
Throughout the tracklist, Austra proves time and time again that they're more than capable of giving their all when it comes to the brand of orchestrally arranged, electronic experimentation in pop music. I can imagine that a track like "Risk It" is likely somewhat polarising and I could understand some people calling out the pitched up vocals as cheap or annoying, but to me it serves as proof of concept in terms of what this album strives to do. For one, it boasts possibly the album's catchiest chorus, on top of an instrumental that really shouldn't work as well as it does, the looping synth stabs acting as a sort of dysfunctional bassline whilst the percussion rattles away. Astoundingly, it all comes together into a cohesive song, and yet it's far from the album's peak.
This is ultimately a positive album, and that's something that I do appreciate in such a depressing year. That said, it's an album that draws positivity from a place of darkness, and I think it's that element that helps it to be such a rewarding, complete and engaging listen. No, it isn't quite amongst this year's elite, but it's a great album and I highly recommend you check it out.
HiRUDiN is the fourth studio album from the Katie Stelmanis-centred group Austra, a project that's never quite been pioneers of any sound but have always provided a worthwhile and usually excellent take on various styles. On this new album of theirs, it does seem like they've taken a lot of influence from artists like Weyes Blood, Rosalía, and Bat For Lashes, the latter of which has always been a major influence on their sound.
TRACK RATINGS (/10)
1. Anywayz - 10
2. All I Wanted - 8
3. How Did You Know? - 8
4. Your Family - 7
5. Risk It - 8
6. Interlude i - N/A
7. It's Amazing - 8
8. Mountain Baby - 8
9. I Am Not Waiting - 9
10. Interlude ii - N/A
11. Messiah - 9
BREAKDOWN
Ambition: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Catchiness/Enjoyability: 8
Content/Ideas: 8
Emotion/Engaging: 9
Execution: 8
Production: 9
Structure: 8
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Lyrics: 9
Vocals/Flows: 9
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Total: 84
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