AURORA’s ‘The Gods We Can Touch’ helps define her sound
Aurora’s latest album comes nearly three years after the release of “A Different Kind of Human,” her second major release.
February 9, 2022
The Norwegian singer-songwriter AURORA recently released her sixth studio album The Gods We Can Touch, and it’s everything you’d expect from the art pop phenomenon. In 15 tracks, AURORA flashes the same energetic quirkiness that we first experienced back in 2015 in her debut.
It’s not exactly the newest sound that’s ever been produced. As far as AURORA’s albums go, it’s essentially the same product she’s always made: a collection of songs with freaky lyrics and unearthly vocals. It’s still AURORA, though, and fans know what to expect when it comes to her new album.
Let’s start with the most popular song. “A Temporary High” is the most streamed song off the album for a reason. The more upbeat pace of the track already sets it apart from the other songs while also bringing an entirely new vibe to the compilation as a whole. “A Temporary High” emanates exactly the type of lyrics to be expected from the top song of an album. It has that 80’s background hype music with 21st century vocals and a dark twist on the lyrics.
There are also a few honorable mentions for the better songs on the album. “Blood In the Wine” is a lyrical sensation and should easily make personal playlists. “There’s beauty in your beast / The flesh in the fruit / And the blood in the wine / Come and feel alive, lover.” The chorus of the song sets a tone that’s catchy and meaningful. This track is designated toward a meaning that makes the listener unashamed of who they are. The entire point of the song is to say there is beauty in everything.
Although there are some good songs, there are also a few skips. “Exhale Inhale” is the perfect example of a track that isn’t played past the first lines. In 15 total tracks, there’s bound to be some variety among the songs where some are better and others are lacking.
To say the album was bad would be an overstatement and false. It produced more enjoyable songs than unenjoyable ones. The album as a whole makes for a good listen, it’s just not exactly the thing you could play anywhere. There’s a specific reddish-dark tint laced in all the songs that almost gives it a dangerous feel. AURORA proved her talent in The Gods We Can Touch and once again produced a compilation that would help define her sound.
