Designer

Designer is the third album by singer-songwriter Aldous Harding. I saw her performing a week ago and her songs are far more "normal" than her stage act. The songs are great folky indie pop with a twist. I think this album is less experimental than "Warm Chris" and "Train on the Island". That makes it less surprising, but also easier to listen to. "Fixture Picture" and "The Barrel" are the top tracks.

I have always wondered what Aldous Harding was doing in Dubaï myself... I guess Dubaï is on the flight path between New Zealand and Britain, is it not? Was she waiting in the airport for the next flight to London? Maybe she was on her way to see John Parish, PJ Harvey's old accomplice and a perfect choice to produce her own music... Maybe that's when the tune of "Zoo Eyes" popped out in that incredible brains of hers. "It's better to live with melody and have an honest heart" goes "Fixture Picture". With the *timeless* melody and enticing vocal harmonies of such a cool-cat opener for her album *Designer*, you'd better believe Ms. Harding... And you probably need a strange form of merriness in your soul to let those melodies come to you at the most improbable junctures -- a merriness that might actually hide some more anxious shapes bubbling under the apparent crystal-clear stream, like a shadow at the bottom of the pool... But can you reconcile what goes on in the higher waters and what lies underneath them? "Designer", both the song and the album it gives its title to, takes that type of bet. You start from the artful beginnings of a one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter and then, out of the blue, you amp up both her off-kilter nature and the relatability of her songs *at the same time*. And you do this to the point where you may even end up doubting the results make sense somehow, if you're not in the best of disposition to receive them. You need to feel poised and calm for the lighthearted, charming vintage tones, but also on the lookout for passing eeriness. Can this be the work of a simple sonic "designer", really? Or is that latter term a cover-up for more unsettling... witchcraft? There is indeed something not quite right about Aldous Harding. She is the sort of person who sits quietly at the back of the classroom, or at the very end of the table in work meetings, with that air of being somewhere else, her head turned toward the window, as though it were truly out there, outside, that her peers and kindred spirits could be found, rather than in the room with her. With her sense of suspension and spacing, she is… a lunatic? No, that word doesn't fit, it's way too aggressive. But Aldous Harding never really seems to be "gently daydreaming" either, anyone who saw her play live can testify to it. There is something too intense in her gaze, something sharp, almost cutting. And so it is with her music: gentle on the surface, but so angular and twisted once one becomes attuned to its true substance. *Designer* bears this out. After two earlier records that embraced more readily identifiable styles (country-folk on her self-titled debut, and chamber pop with cooler, more austere inflections on the equally great *Party*), this third LP can be represented as a hairpin turn or a dive into the unknown. At the risk of unsettling the uninitiated listener, the seemingly easy-listening nature of those songs paradoxically derive their inner tension from a heavy reliance on major chords, in perpetual modulation. Once in a while, these modulations seem on the verge of plunging into a minor abyss, which could open up from anywhere (this is actually where the tension stems from). A simple nocturnal harmony lasting barely a second—a dark flash suddenly cracking the surrounding light— is able to not only reinvigorate a composition, but perhaps even the whole album. Easy listening or uneasy listening? When Harding offers you a cocktail, you never really know what she might have poured into it. Bitter gin? Sugary syrup? Heady curaçao? Deadly cyanide? Of course, Harding can also be more forthcoming and direct, as with "Treasure", a heartrending love ballad which has a perfect name to present itself to the world. When Parish's elated background vocals surge at the end of this wondrous tune, it's as if the stars align, and as if you've known this gem of a song all your life. The New Zealander can also be more straightforward in the manner she can harness a gentle groove, as in "The Barrel", one of her most iconic singles, or also in the terrific "Weight Of The Planets". But conversely, just as the needle moves forward, Aldous simultaneously doubles down on the mystery of her core artistry, with the endless question marks of "Damn", the soft despair of "Heaven Is Empty", or the ultra-barebones "Pilot", laced with hieratic vocals and extremely simple harmonies on the piano. This very dry, very minimalistic closer doesn't sound like much on a first listen, sure... But the more you return to it, the more you realize that this composition actually contains multitudes -- that its passing mention that "Camus was right" (as if the French existentialist author's name was also the one of a fashion accessory) ultimately has a truly cosmic scope. This woman is capable of anything (as her subsequent LPs *Warm Chris* and *Train On The Island* also prove) -- even suggesting a whole universe through a song that feels no bigger than a drop of water... It is also impossible to sum up the variety with which the New Zealand artist sings on this record. Unpredictable, she can try it all: nasal and theatrical vocals; far warmer performances harking back to Nick Drake; jazz inflections -- not to mention all the intermediate stages between such extremes. Far from being disconcerting, these many shifts provide the variety that Harding's often sparse instrumentation and highly distinctive harmonic progressions do not always offer. "People sometimes ask me, 'Why don't you use your real voice?' What they don't realize is that I no longer know what my normal voice sounds like" Aldous has once revealed in an interview. Coming from almost anyone else, this kind of statement might seem like the pose of an artist with impeccable technique, inventing an identity crisis in order to better conceal aesthetic intentions that would otherwise appear muddled or out of control. But you cannot level that accusation at Aldous Harding, whether her music moves you or not. This is, in fact, the very paradox of the chameleon: the more it dons disguises -- increasingly melting into its surroundings and shifting its colours --, the more it becomes entirely itself, strange as that may seem. Whether in Dubaï, England, Wales, New Zealand or anywhere else in the world, you better watch out for those sorts of chameleons. Because some of them end up changing the face of music itself. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list dedicated to essential albums, rounded up to 5 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 for the musicianship and production values + 4.5 for the artistry) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 119 (including this one) Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 132 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 289 ---- Ah Émile, je viens de me rendre compte que c'est à moi de répondre ! Je me suis emmêlé les pinceaux sur le suivi des messages cet été, on dirait... Petite question au préalable : tu as rejoint le serveur discord du générateur ? Et si oui, quel est ton pseudo là-bas ? Dis-moi juste ta réponse là-dessus dans ta prochaine review dès que tu vois ce message. Je te réponds ensuite en bonne et due forme dans la foulée (je vérifierai tes reviews tous les jours ou quasi, j'ai moyen de le faire, je suis toujours en vacances

This album has a nice energy. Comfortable and smooth, worked well as a soundtrack for my work today. Kind of a female Jack Johnson vibe going on here with some creative songwriting. Great!

What if Joni Mitchell was still alive and a weirdo?

Fantastic

New Zealand singer-songwriter that captures the introspective energy of Joan as Police Woman but with a more minimalistic, spacious sound. Every song on Designer is given room to breathe and tell its own story, with Harding carefully crafting subtle meaning into her lyrical offerings. This album is best understood as a literary exercise in tandem with tender acoustic folk arrangements. This an artistic treasure trove for those who wish to slow down and further inspect the details of such a wonderful album. CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Too niche I feel, but a great choice for the user's list.

Very strong music and singing. Lyrically I didn't connect with a lot of it, or to maybe to put it bluntly the words didn't make a lot of sense to me. I have an impression I might come more around on that if I spent more time with it. Damn John Parish gets around huh?

I find this album a bit hard to describe, but I liked it overall. She has a beautiful voice, and the production really works well with it. The music is interesting enough, but isn't the main feature here. There were times when the album faded into the background a bit for me, but overall I really enjoyed it 4/5

Quirky - both in voice and composition. It literally sounds like multiple vocalists on the album - the light and airy vocals near the top of the album are in stark contrast to the deep baritone later on (just listen to the first and last songs for greatest contrast - I had to check the credits to confirm it was the same singer) so it's an odd listen in some ways. I think the fact that I can't tell if I like it or not but wanted to listen to it again is a good sign? A little outside my norms but there was something about this that would make me come back to it. 7/10 4 stars IMO: Belonged in the book? No.

Pretty cool folk album, not too standout but enjoyable

Indie-folk as advertised. Perhaps played out, but had a nice moment listening through it. It sat right

This woman has a great vocal range. The music is very calm and minimalist.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Fixture picture, The barrel, Weight of the planets

Jack Johnson meets Joni Mitchell? Smooth and calming.

Oh no! Another album that has got it's hooks into me. I played it a few times- just couldn't get it out of my head. The videos are pretty bizarre but the musics itself is hypnotic. Submitter what have you done!?

This is really nice. At times reminded me a bit of Sufjan Stevens, but overall it felt fully original. 4 stars.

I've been meaning to listen to more Aldous Harding and this reminded me she has a new album out that I haven't listened to yet. I think it's really good indie folk but not something that is essential listening. My personal rating: 4/5 My rating relative to the list: 4.5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No

Nice album this one I’ll hopefully come back to.

Very pleasant. I didn't really listen so this is 3 to 5 stars, but it made charming sounds to my afternoon.

Nicely chilled album , bit too slow for me on occasion but an enjoyable listen overall

It was ok. Nothing bad. .

Some odd compositions in here, but it shows they are thinking about it and not just churning a record out. Shades of Alanis Morrisette, a bit Norah Jones coffee table sound here and there. Stand out: Fixture Picture is a nice opener, with a chorus you could cover and use in pretty much any other genre. (Damn was also another, where they slowed right down)

Det är fin musik på alla sätt och vis men det är inga låtar som fastnar. Lite småtråkigt album om jag ska vara ärlig.

Nice

I have some exposure to this material through the Spotify algorithm but I’ve never put on a full album before. I enjoyed it. I would love to hear from the person who nominated this for the list why they thought it rose to 1001 level.

Kiinnostava ääni, mutta sovituksellisesti ei säväytä tämmönen näin riisuttu meno. 3/5

This was a pleasant alt / indie use of my time

Somewhat atypical indie folk. Something about her singing style hits my ears kind of weird, but it enhances the experience

Folksy indie, which sounds very English - I didn't get "kiwi" at all! Nothing particularly exciting or innovative, but pleasant enough

what a voice HL: title track, "Zoo Eyes", "Damn", "Weight of the Planets" June 25, 2026

Designer is an album that has stayed with me ever since I discovered it during the Covid years. Aldous Harding distinguishes herself from the average singer-songwriter by adding just enough stubbornness to otherwise conventional songs. The title track is a good example. It constantly shifts between featherlight pop and melancholic folk, with subtle tempo changes that keep it slightly off balance. Elsewhere, the appeal comes from her melodic instincts and a delightfully dry, understated production that leaves plenty of room for the songs to breathe. "Weight of the Planets" remains the standout for me, a genuinely beautiful piece of music. Yet I can't quite get to four stars. For every moment of invention, there's another where the songwriting feels surprisingly lazy. "Pilot," "Treasure," and "Damn" never quite develop beyond their initial ideas. A good album, sometimes a very good one, but not quite consistent enough to reach the level its best moments promise.

Middle of the road

Pretty nice

Indie folk. Ni fu ni fa.

An interesting singer-songwriter LP with some inherent verve that elevates its above its contemporaries. While on the slower side, I appreciated the variation in tempos and instrumentation – each track felt distinct, and usually added to the album’s personality. Does get repetitive in spots, and the back half feels a little limp compared to the first’s energy. A decent listen, regardless, and a more worthy modern singer-songwriter addition than some other albums on the user list.

Now that I've died of boredom.... This is coffee house indie folk. Nothing wrong with it, just horribly bland... Favourite songs: Designer, Fixture Picture Least favourite songs: Weight of the Planets 2/5

Designer is another one of those indie folk albums that might be alright in small doses but otherwise bores me quickly. Treasure was good, the rest a bland 2.

Mid.

I don’t want to say anything bad about this because I do feel there is some integrity in this choice. But….i found it dull and depressing.

Some nice harmonies at first. It felt like the voice was way too much more focused on than the music and it was a little frustrating. There was no variety and it lowkey sucked BLAHHHH