This recording perfectly captures the eccentric acoustic and uniquely loveable character of Aurora in music. Here on this album all her many facets and qualities are fully evident. The propensity for beauty and thoughtful rumination on the status of the heart in our culture. At the same time it is coquetish, playful, mischievous, isn't afraid to go into darker, weirder, those more edgy sensuous areas of the psyche. She appears to be off beat by nature, kooky and ever so slightly mad in a distinct Scandinavian manner. So much so that the poignant beauty and unpredictability of her music constantly takes you ravishingly by surprise.
The opening six tracks of What Happened to the Heart as a sequence of perfectly crafted pop songs - is a tour de force. Each one delighting in enchanting the ear and heart. Then there is a distinct pause for quieter more sparely orchestrated songs, before she adopts a more abrasive, disquieting tone for much of the remainder of the album.
If I have a criticism of the album, it's that sixteen tracks and just over an hours running time cannot fail to lose momentum, and so on occasion it does. It's what the term Less is More was invented to deter. A sleeker and perhaps more judiciously pruned version of this record would have been an absolute stonker, start to finish. As it is this is really really close, but falls short of a full eight carrot commendation.
On previous albums there have been momentary glimpses of What Happened to the Heart delivers fully resolved. Here the quality and consistent invention of her songwriting and production is what remains impressive. Why she's not better known and appreciated is harder to understand. This album is great and grand in its ambitions. It ought to be the mainstream breakthrough moment, for her brand of folk tinged pop. And if it isn't, then I'd really have to wonder what it is people want these days.
CARROT REVIEW - 7/8
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