Primer: Aldous Harding Tour of New Zealand

Arising from humble beginnings in Lyttelton's folk music community, Aldous Harding aka Hannah Harding seems to have entered what could described as the "imperial phase" of her career — a term first coined by Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys to articulate that period when a musician is regarded to be at their commercial and creative peak simultaneously. Harding's new record Warm Chris (out now on Flying Nun / 4AD) veers further from folky roots to delve down offbeat avenues, coaxing gruff Sleaford Mods frontman Jason Williamson to have a crack at Nico-esque balladry on closing collab 'Leathery Whip'. Sculpting resonant shapes from Western avant-pop / rock's rich tradition, the Aotearoa songwriter's cryptic lyrical approach often trips up reviewers and interviewers alike, despite Harding's forthright, no-nonsense conversational style. Even the title of Warm Chris provokes mystery, our current UTR office theory is it's a cosy play on "Hot Toddy"?

Presently based in Wales, Harding returns to Aotearoa in October for a rapidly selling-out, three date nationwide tour. To help prep your ears (and eyes) for Harding's first local shows since 2020, we've gathered here in one handy spot all the videos released for the singles from Warm Chris so far, plus as a bonus 2021's standalone 'Old Peel'...

Aldous Harding - 2022 Aotearoa Tour
with special guest H. Hawkline

Wednesday 26th October - Town Hall, Auckland
Friday 28th October - St James Theatre, Wellington
Saturday 29th October - James Hay Theatre, Christchurch

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: aldousharding.com & livenation.co.nz

Animator Chris McD contributes surreal, nursery rhyme-like visuals for 'Tick Tock'...

Harding and regular collaborator / visual mastermind Martin Sagadin co-directed the gorgeous videos for both 'Fever' and 'Lawn' — the latter of which stars Harding as a half-lizard and showcases Sagadin's limber juggling skills...

Flipping roles, an Iggy Pop-like Martin Sagadin takes centre stage in Harding's self-directed clip for 2021's standalone single 'Old Peel'...

'Warm Chris' is out now via Flying Nun (in Aotearoa) and 4AD (rest of the world).