Train On The Island

Fifth album from the New Zealand-born singer-songwriter. Harding moved to Wales in 2020 and collaborates with her live-in partner, H. Hawkline (Huw Evans), as well as other local musicians. Her somewhat low-key alt folk is “warm and inviting,” while being strange, playful and out-of-the-box at times. The melodies are carried by guitar, bass, piano, drums and synths — with pedal steel and even a harp thrown in. But it’s Harding’s curious, intriguing poetry set to music that define the 10-song set. The result has earned “Train On The Island” exceptional praise, including an almost unheard of 90 from Pitchfork. RIYL: Cate LeBon, Jessica Pratt, Julia Jacklin, Fiona Apple, Bedouine.
— Francis

Recommended: 2, 5, 1, 3, 10. No FCCs noted.

1. (4:07) I Ate The Most — Spare, pensive opener. Sputtering, shuffling percussion. Organ and brief guitar licks. Extremely present, low-register vocals — like Harding ‘ate the mic.’ Some backing harmonies. ****
2. (3:30) One Stop — Urgent, repeated piano arpeggios. A very radio-friendly song, but with unexpected twists and turns. The song transitions to strummed guitar at around 2:25. ****
3. (5:35) Train On The Island — Very laid-back storytelling feel. Composed of just two piano chords, three bass notes and two guitar notes over a simple rhythm. Yet, it’s all mesmerizing and draws one into Harding’s dreamy, slightly sultry vocals. ****
4. (3:54) Worms — A slow and sensuous piano ballad. Snare drum rhythm and a hint of pedal steel guitar.
5. (3:17) Venus In The Zinnia (ft. H. Hawkline) — A highlight! Lovely duet with H. Hawkline. Strummed guitar with an interesting bassline and the vocalists playing off one another. Some player piano in the lead break. ****
6. (4:12) If Lady Does It — An experimental feel. Keyboards, bass and guitar once again. Frequent changes to tempo and musical structure. Playful, quavering vocals.
7. (4:42) San Francisco — Slow, soulful and free-form jazzy. Organ and pedal steel guitar. Unexpectedly breaks into up-tempo strumming with a very Joni Mitchell throwback feel at 3:30.
8. (3:45) What Am I Gonna Do — A funky groovy vibe. Deep drums, bass and shimmering keys. Throaty vocals. Again, unpredictable shifts in musical signatures.
9. (2:58) Riding That Symbol — Sweet and beautiful folk ballad over picked and strummed guitar.
10. (3:29) Coats — Hip and fun, with a nice swagger. Fuzzy guitars along with a simple bassline and rhythm. Quizzical lyrics about “Big thick coats on the dogs of people just trying to help.” ***