i don't think it's exactly right to call Halo aimless because she has a propensity for exploring different genres and making her mark in each: on the contrary there's something quite focused about it, just a refusal to cleave to her "strengths". i also think the oxymorons scattered thruout don't really justify themselves regarding the album, or maybe the review would be more spot-on if you took another couple of days to digest? idk, because this review is so beautiful and reviewing Halo is hard!!

i prefer the meat in the sandwich here but the bookends don't slouch nosirree

Album Rating: 4.5

classical music is good again

Album Rating: 4.0

that's completely fair and good critique wines and toad (thank you) - and i might agree with you more than it seems. i think i'm realizing that the aimlessness i attempt to describe here perhaps has to do more with how we perceive what she puts forth rather than her process of creation, as I find it really difficult to pinpoint all her progressions -- between (and in) tracks, between her albums.. rather than wandering aimlessly herself, it feels more like she's always one step ahead of us and just doesn't telegraph those movements very noticeably. we're subjected to a feeling of aimlessness that is deceptive. but you're right, i agree that it *is* clearly focused the way she manages to tackle all these styles, and it's always surprising -- i would say the oxymorons are me grappling with how to explain these things, for better or worse lol



here it just seems like Halo is more pointedly addressing those "aimless" qualities (a descriptor that has surely been lobbed at her before by others) in ways that surprised me and contradicted and confused in beautiful ways -- a reminder of why i love her work and hold it all (this now included) as equally essential within her canon

Album Rating: 4.0

Remember when Laurel got disgruntled by critics/biographers calling her work "playful" which seemed like a very odd descriptor to me. And maybe "aimless" describing music has a bit of an unintended but inevitable negative connotation. Structure of her songs and albums are more often than not discordant and incoherent but in a beautifully calculated way. My favourite track from Dust was 'Who Won?' along with 'Moontalk' of course.



Anyway this is a beautiful review to match the album!

Album Rating: 4.0

I don't know how moontalk can't be playful, but I think overall her music is more explorative than playful - this release seems much more meditative than anything. I think Halo definitely invokes the feeling/process of wandering on her records while still leading the listener in very intentional ways. Her songwriting still baffles me sometimes in its complexity (eg jelly) and it makes repeated listens so rewarding. I've been spinning this a bunch and it might be my third or fourth favorite of hers, though its peaks are incredible.

i :clap: love :clap: your :clap: Discourse

great points Chortles and Toad and i agree... fellas with your help i met get close to demystifying the tangle myself

beautiful album...I can't get enough of 'the sick mind' but the whole thing is spellbinding

the sick mind is my favourite cut too! *extremely personal anecdote imparted in mock-regretful tones* when i first heard this album i was on abrupt med withdrawal and my brain zaps completely aligned with it; not pleasant, but a special experience in its own way

That's my favourite too sowing. And then the bookends

Album Rating: 4.2

Sowing boi you're gonna have to check out Quarantine -stat-

Sweet Review Chortles.

Album Rating: 4.0

cheers ed!

Listened to this a couple more times and, honestly, it's pretty barren. I'm all for mood music and negative space, but this album feels especially nondescript for Halo. We have A LOT of fantastic ambient from this year, this seems a little thin by comparison.

i dig the artwork atm

Yeah this actually kind of grew off me sharply. Still pretty but not much to it.

Album Rating: 4.0

lovely album

Album Rating: 3.5

the sick mind is entrancing



love the review

I love Yanny Halo

Damn I gotta hear this.

Album Rating: 4.0

"Yeah this actually kind of grew off me sharply. Still pretty but not much to it. "



conversely this has grown on me greatly