Herald (album)

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

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

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

At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album and Best Blues & Roots Album and Eben Ejdne was nominated for Best Cover Art for this release.[2]

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.[3]

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."[3]

Recording

Odette collaborated with producer Damian Taylor during recording sessions, who previously produced her debut album.[4]

Composition

The album as a whole discusses themes of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood,[4] and mental health,[5] whilst "Dwell" is "anchored in Odette's own [sic] reflections on grief and the manifestations of emotional negativity."[6]

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.[7]

The album was released on 5 February 2021 on CD,[8] LP,[9] digital download, and streaming formats.[10] A bone-coloured edition of the vinyl was also made available exclusively at Australian JB Hi-Fi stores.[11]

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.[12]

"Dwell" was released as the second single on 20 October 2020.[7]

"Amends" was released as the third single on 8 January 2021.[13]

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

Live performances

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

On 19 November 2020, Odette performed "Dwell" live on Triple J's Like a Version segment, alongside a cover of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck".[16]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim![17]
The Music[18]

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".[17]

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."[18]

Mid-year lists
Herald on mid-year lists
Publication List Rank Ref.
The Music The Music's Top 25 Albums Of 2021 (So Far) —
[19]

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

Musicians

Technical

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

References
  1. "Odette covers AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' for Like a Version". Triple J. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. Kelly, Vivienne (20 October 2021). "ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. "Odette premieres video for new single 'Amends'". BroadwayWorld. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  4. Enis, Eli (22 October 2020). "Odette announces new album Herald, shares new song "Dwell": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  5. 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.
  6. Fuamoli, Sose (21 October 2020). "First Spin: Odette uses new track to evolve and 'expel rage'". Triple J. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. Langford, Jackson (20 October 2020). "Odette announces new album 'Herald'". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  8. "Herald by Odette at JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  9. "Herald (Swamp Green Vinyl) by Odette at JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  10. "Herald by Odette on Apple Music". Retrieved 4 January 2021 – via Apple Music.
  11. "Herald (JB Hi-Fi Australian Exclusive Bone Vinyl) by Odette at JB Hi-Fi". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  12. James Young, David (14 February 2021). "Odette releases Hermitude collaboration 'Feverbreak', announces launch shows". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  13. Rose, Anna (8 January 2021). "Listen to Odette's new single, 'Amends'". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  14. "Singles to Radio". The Music Network. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  15. "Paul Kelly leads The Sound's Christmas special on ABC TV this week". Double J. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  16. Bruce, Jasper (19 November 2020). "Odette covers 'Thunderstruck' by AC/DC for triple j's Like a Version". NME Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  17. Khan, Urbi (3 February 2021). "Odette comes of age on 'Herald'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  18. Farnell, Guido (2 February 2021). "Odette / Herald: Album Review". The Music. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  19. "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.
  20. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
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