​Hiraeth - Sonder

Hiraeth

​Sonder
self-released; 2017

​4.1 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By Mia Romani

Hiraeth is a five-piece band from Sydney, Australia, consisting of members Matthew, Adam, Cameron, Alex and Cassandra. The group describes their most recent work Sonder as “a seamless fusion of tight R&B grooves, dense post-rock arrangements and subtle ambiance.” They couldn’t have described Sonder any better. The five-track album is beautifully arranged, emotionally-rich and sublime. Sonder was recorded at Asharp Studio and the sound quality is exceptional.

For me personally, the album’s title track “Sonder” is vocally intoxicating. The calming chords and soft, steady drum beat pair perfectly with the vocalist’s stunning coos. The other track that I would consider to be a stand out is the first song on Sonder titled “Fireflies.”

​This love song includes beautiful piano, soft vocals, introspective lyrics and a surprising inclusion of rapping over the soft rock instrumentals and additional vocals. The song ends with a punchier beat than it began with, and is a somewhat “happy ending” to a song with a softer, more refined beginning.

Hiraeth’s ability to fuse soft rock and R&B is flawless. Each track on Sonder flows beautifully bar to bar, and does not overuse the inclusion of R&B. Just the right amount of soft-rock and R&B are included, allowing this album to be enjoyed by people with a variety of music tastes.

Hiraeth’s Sonder reminds me very much so of The Fray’s How to Save a Life, Fort Minor’s Rising Tide and Bon Iver’s Blood Bank. This is an excellent album for relaxation and reflection. I am looking forward to hearing more tracks from Hiraeth. Recommended.

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