New Zealand singer-songwriter Aldous Harding has announced her fifth studio album, Train on the Island, set for release on May 8 via 4AD. The follow-up to 2022's Warm Chris reunites her with producer John Parish and includes debut single 'One Stop', pre-order options, and an expanded tour across the UK, Europe, and North America.
Aldous Harding has revealed details of her new album Train on the Island, recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales—the same location as her previous records—and produced by long-time collaborator John Parish (PJ Harvey, Dry Cleaning). The album features contributions from pedal steel player Joe Harvey-Whyte, harpist Mali Llewelyn, synth artist Thomas Poli, drummer Sebastian Rochford (Polar Bear), and multi-instrumentalist Huw Evans (H. Hawkline) on bass, vocals, guitar, and organ. It is available for pre-order in formats including CD, standard black vinyl, and limited-edition blue vinyl.
The lead single 'One Stop' features a stripped-back arrangement with a piano motif and Harding's multi-tracked vocals, creating a wiry and enigmatic atmosphere. The accompanying video, directed by Michelle Henning, shows Harding performing an abstract dance inside a giant metal tub.
The full tracklist is:
1. I Ate the Most
2. One Stop
3. Train on the Island
4. Worms
5. Venus in the Zinnia
6. If Lady Does It
7. San Francisco
8. What Am I Gonna Do?
9. Riding That Symbol
10. Coats
Harding has expanded her tour due to demand, adding a third London show at the Barbican on May 31. The UK and European leg kicks off May 25 at Brighton Dome, followed by Southampton, Cambridge, Bristol, Glasgow, Dublin, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and the London dates. The North American tour begins September 9 in Philadelphia and ends September 30 in Los Angeles.
The album follows Warm Chris (2022), which earned a four-star NME review for its 'sparse and deliberate instrumentation' and Harding's disorienting voice. Singles 'Lawn' and 'Fever' previewed it; Pitchfork ranked 'Fever' No. 65 in the 100 Best Songs of the 2020s So Far. Harding recently collaborated with Sleaford Mods on 'Elitest G.O.A.T.' and played two sold-out Barbican shows in 2023.
