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A U R O R A
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A U R O R A Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

  • Summary: The fifth full-length studio release for the Iceland-based Australian producer was influenced by his time in the eastern Congo.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. cokemachineglow
    Jul 22, 2014
    90
    There’s nothing knee-jerk about it; just the inexorable sounds of ideas beautiful and terrible unfurling. It’s a careful, masterful record.
  2. AllMusic
    May 27, 2014
    90
    A U R O R A is dark, dreadful, and dramatic; it is also a masterpiece.
  3. The Line of Best Fit
    Jun 11, 2014
    85
    A brutal yet glorious release that doubles up as an unbending overture to fervour and force.
  4. Clash Music
    May 20, 2014
    80
    A U R O R A is both testing of boundaries and transcendental of beauty.
  5. Fact Magazine (UK)
    May 29, 2014
    80
    If his aim was to give musical form to the eastern DRC’s “unnerving beauty and unflinching horror”, then A U R O R A is a dazzling success.
  6. Exclaim
    May 23, 2014
    80
    There can be beauty in decay, growth from devastation, and A U R O R A helps open your eyes to that perspective.
  7. Uncut
    May 20, 2014
    70
    It's hard-going at times, but "Nolan" and "Soda Fide" are oddly stirring. [Jun 2014, p.78]
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See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. thingsareworse
    May 27, 2014
    9
    Maybe not quite as oppressive as By The Throat, but still an incredible experience of distortion filled experimenting. If anything the onlyMaybe not quite as oppressive as By The Throat, but still an incredible experience of distortion filled experimenting. If anything the only real downfall of this album is the slight lack of cohesion as compared to Ben Frost's earlier works, but it's still a must listen for anyone looking into dark ambient or experimental music, and a welcome addition for previous Ben Frost fans.… Expand
  2. adhamhany
    Jun 26, 2014
    5
    It has some interesting parts with power. However, most of the album is boring and fails to evoke any emotions. The parts i liked are in:It has some interesting parts with power. However, most of the album is boring and fails to evoke any emotions. The parts i liked are in: "Nolan", "Secant", and "A Single Point of Blinding Light".… Expand
  4. slutrag
    Dec 7, 2014
    4
    I'm a huge fan of drone, noise, ambient whatever you want to call it and love this dudes work on soundtracks.
    This album to me is probably    I'm a huge fan of drone, noise, ambient whatever you want to call it and love this dudes work on soundtracks.
    This album to me is probably the only album I find 'unlistenable', and i don't mean 'unlistenable' in the sense that the themes are so awful and hateful you have to turn it off (the good way), I mean that some of the production literally causes pain to my ears... Plenty of other noise artists make 'unlistenable' drone that assaults the senses and calms/energizes you but some of the production on this (really harsh, scratchy bits of EQd noise, painful white noise etc.) literally causes me physical pain and every time it happens it is so jarring and unpleasant that I can't continue with much more of the album, which sucks because Bread Crumbs is pretty much my favouritest track ever :(    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best Album of 2014

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