Herald (album)

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Herald
The head of an olive-skinned woman with short curly hair is shown, amidst a pink background. Her eyes are partially distorted, with visual effects used to create a second pair of eyes and a crack directly underneath her right eye, following down to her lips.
Studio album by
Odette
Released5 February 2021
GenreElectronic[1]
Length39:48
LabelEMI Music Australia
ProducerDamian Taylor
Odette chronology
To a Stranger
(2018) 		Herald
(2021)
Singles from Herald
  1. "Feverbreak"
    Released: 14 February 2020
  2. "Dwell"
    Released: 20 October 2020
  3. "Amends"
    Released: 8 January 2021
  4. "Trial By Fire"
    Released: 14 May 2021

Herald is the second studio album by Australian musician Odette, released on 5 February 2021 through EMI Music Australia.

Supported by the singles "Feverbreak", "Dwell", and "Amends" and "Trial by Fire"—Herald debuted and peaked at number 47 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Background[]

The album follows on three years after Odette's debut album, To a Stranger (2018), which received high critical acclaim and two ARIA Awards nominations in the year of release.[2]

Discussing the album in a press release, Odette stated:

"This album is sort of a nuanced discussion of the positives and the negatives of mental illness and also just being a human being. It talks about the realities of hurting others, the consequences of that, and even more so, it holds me accountable—it holds me to my word."[2]

Recording[]

Odette collaborated with producer Damian Taylor during recording sessions, who previously produced her debut album.[3]

Composition[]

The album as a whole discusses themes of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood,[3] and mental health,[4] whilst "Dwell" is "anchored in Odette's own [sic] reflections on grief and the manifestations of emotional negativity."[5]

In an interview with Triple J, Odette described the album as focussed sonically around "a classic scale with electronic elements."[1]

Release[]

Herald's title and release date were announced on 20 October 2020.[6]

The album was released on 5 February 2021 on CD,[7] LP,[8] digital download, and streaming formats.[9] A bone-coloured edition of the vinyl was also made available exclusively at Australian JB Hi-Fi stores.[10]

Promotion[]

Singles[]

Herald was supported by four singles.

"Feverbreak", a collaboration with Hermitude, was released as the album's lead single on 14 February 2020.[11]

"Dwell" was released as the second single on 20 October 2020.[6]

"Amends" was released as the third single on 8 January 2021.[12]

"Trial by Fire" was serviced to Australian contemporary hit radio as the album's fourth and final single on 14 May 2021.[13]

Live performances[]

On 15 November 2020, Odette performed "Dwell" live for Australian live music program The Sound.[14]

On 19 November 2020, Odette performed "Dwell" live on Triple J's Like a Version segment, alongside a cover of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck".[15]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!3.5/5 stars[16]
The Music8/10 stars[17]

Herald received favourable reviews from music critics.

Exclaim!'s Urbi Khan labelled it a "coming-of-age album". Khan felt that "[Odette] sheds her past self and creates the new out of the ashes".[16]

Guido Farnell from The Music was positive in his review of the album, noting "there is great poetic intent driving her somewhat lovelorn lyrical observations."[17]

Mid-year lists[]

Herald on mid-year lists hide
Publication List Rank Ref.
The Music The Music's Top 25 Albums Of 2021 (So Far) N/A
[18]

Track listing[]

Herald track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Herald"
 3:43
2."Dwell"
Countbounce3:17
3."Trial by Fire"
  • Sallybanks
  • James Malone
 4:58
4."What I Know Is Not Enough"
  • Sallybanks
  • Taylor
 5:04
5."I Miss You, I'm Sorry"Sallybanks 3:16
6."Foghorn"Sallybanks 3:08
7."Feverbreak" (featuring Hermitude)
Hermitude4:17
8."Amends"SallybanksTaylor3:31
9."Why Can't I Let the Sun Set?"Sallybanks 2:30
10."Wait for You"Sallybanks 2:39
11."Mandible"
  • Sallybanks
  • Carter Matschullat
 3:25
Total length:39:48

Personnel[]

  • Odette – writing, vocals (1–11)

Other musicians

  • Hermitude – production (7)
  • Damian Taylor – production (1–11)
  • Pip Norman – writing (2)
  • Jantine Heij – writing (2)
  • Nat Dunn – writing (2)[19]

Charts[]

Chart performance for Herald
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 47

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Odette covers AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' for Like a Version". Triple J. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Odette premieres video for new single 'Amends'". BroadwayWorld. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Enis, Eli (22 October 2020). "Odette announces new album Herald, shares new song "Dwell": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  4. ^ James Young, David (5 February 2021). "On Rage & Redemption: Odette opens up about the mental health battles that loom large on 'Herald'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  5. ^ Fuamoli, Sose (21 October 2020). "First Spin: Odette uses new track to evolve and 'expel rage'". Triple J. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Langford, Jackson (20 October 2020). "Odette announces new album 'Herald'". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Herald by Odette at JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Herald (Swamp Green Vinyl) by Odette at JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Herald by Odette on Apple Music". Retrieved 4 January 2021 – via Apple Music.
  10. ^ "Herald (JB Hi-Fi Australian Exclusive Bone Vinyl) by Odette at JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  11. ^ James Young, David (14 February 2021). "Odette releases Hermitude collaboration 'Feverbreak', announces launch shows". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  12. ^ Rose, Anna (8 January 2021). "Listen to Odette's new single, 'Amends'". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Singles to Radio". The Music Network. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Paul Kelly leads The Sound's Christmas special on ABC TV this week". Double J. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  15. ^ Bruce, Jasper (19 November 2020). "Odette covers 'Thunderstruck' by AC/DC for triple j's Like a Version". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b Khan, Urbi (3 February 2021). "Odette comes of age on 'Herald'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Farnell, Guido (2 February 2021). "Odette / Herald: Album Review". The Music. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Are these the best albums of 2021 so far?". The Music. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  19. ^ Weiss, Suzannah (21 October 2020). "Odette announces sophomore LP Herald with premiere of "Dwell" video". Audio Femme. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  20. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
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