Aurora - The Gods We can Touch

It’s very good, Aurora. Why didn’t I get down to this earlier? I don’t know. Of course I’d heard of her, and probably one track or 2, since months, but I hadn’t gone and listened to a full album. It is time that I catch up. And that you catch up too, maybe.

Aurora is her real first name. She is Norwegian. So you’re in the middle of Scandinavia, as you can hear it in her style. Let’s think of other female singers from there: Norwegian Rebekka Karijord and Stina Nordenstam, Swedish Anna Ternheim, Danish Agnes Obel. A bit farther, Icelandic Björk is unsurprisingly part of her references. Closer to me on the other hand, and probably more amazing (mind you), French singer Pomme writes and sings the last chorus, in French, of excellent "Everything Matters". (I still can’t identify whether Pomme does the 2nd voice in the English chorus... or Aurora herself?)

Rich music which elevates you ("Heathens"), often ethereal thanks to her aerial vocals ("Exhale Inhale", "This Could Be a Dream"), but dynamic too (jerky "Cure for Me") or which rocks ("Giving in to the Love", "A Temporary High").
I can see a Norwegian fanfare playing while walking briskly at Joan of Arc Parade in Orléans for instance ("The Innocent").
An unexpected bandoneon and a very ethnic final “Came back for more”, almost Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir, celebrate the mythological goddess of hunt and childbirth ("Artemis"). What if this globally spiritual album rather speaks of the gods we can not touch?

Very catchy, some melodies that sound more standard pop-rock with their chanted chorus make me think of Alanis Morissette ("Blood in the Wine"). If it weren’t released since more than a year, I’d say this album contains loads of potential hits!

On the other hand, "Exist for Love", sorry I just can’t. Far too much syrup. Obviously the Nordic young woman once sang for Disney (Frozen 2). Apart from that, it’s very good, Aurora.