Aldous Harding - Designer / The Barrel - Live at Le Guess Who?

New Zealand songwriter Aldous Harding performs 'Designer' and 'The Barrel' live at Le Guess Who? 2019 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, following the release of her latest album 'Designer'.
Filmed on Saturday, November 9, at TivoliVredenburg's Grote Zaal during Le Guess Who? 2019.
Directed by Nick Helderman.
Camera by Wim Adam, Roy Jamhouri, Hugo Jouxtel, Tim van der Voort.
Montage by Nick Helderman and Roy Jamhouri.
Sound recording by Marc Broer.
www.leguesswho...

[@2-bitgaming431]

She's a freak and the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!

[@VideoSaySo]

There's something comforting and familiar about her voice...like that's what the voice in your head when you talk to yourself sounds like lol

[@jennifervara7631]

So gentle and, poetically centered, I can't place her in any musical category, she's just simply A TRUE ARTIST....in every form.

[@carmencaamano9434]

Like to much!!

[@jimcatalfamo8034]

Pop Art Alternative Indie Folk, this combo is the best thing since Wuthering Hights

[@mangs9940]

just thinking that!

[@theecanmole]

In New Zealand we have invented the term "neo-gothic dream pop" just for Aldous Harding.

[@Una...]

When She smiles, She lets you breath. But only for a moment. Exhilarating.

[@claudiagalea3357]

I'm telling ya... she's trying her hardest not to smile. I mean look at her hair and listen to her random lyrics!! I love the music these people play together.

[@dameinoferrall2400]

There's nobody like her right now. She's not even from this galaxy. I love her!

[@Trollificusv2]

"like her"?? "LIKE her"??? Dude, I'm a carbon-based, laterally symmetrical, bipedal mammal with opposable thumbs too! Other than that...uh...yeah, there's that whole "other galaxy" thing, and the Andromeda Dancing...which was suppressed by the Helator Hivemind. I'd take her in, as an interstellar urchin, for sure.

[@DavidSGrop]

@@Trollificusv2 user name checks out

[@ajax428]

@@Trollificusv2 lol 😂👍

[@themysticmuse1111]

I got into her last summer. Hard. Swallowed my soul. Consumed. I will never ever, be the same. ❤

[@Aivinaators]

cocteautwinned hard same!

[@colinkelly7191]

great post

[@pirro31]

that's where i am now and i never want it to end

[@jkey3835]

stop trying to be edgy

[@themysticmuse1111]

@@jkey3835just being me self. This woman seriously altered my life.

[@billybuckmusic]

her presence is so intoxicating. I feel like I'm transported to a different world when I watch this

[@daskleinegluck4553]

Excellent performance. How many gifted musicians on stage 😊🥰.

[@andrewgoswell3172]

I am a writer and she puts me beyond words with everything i hear from her... Simply brilliant in so many ways, wordless, speechless... Her creativity is unexpectedly amazing in her videos!

[@decodynamo]

That visionary shimmer.

[@dogsmiddlename]

Aldous harding is gorgeous, unique and awesome!

[@canalcreations]

lovely to see someone not compromising with their creativity...and making it work. amazing stuff. paving the way here Aldous

[@BlaqueCzar]

She has ine of the greatest live shows. The sound is amazing.

[@philiparmand3534]

Initially I thought her stage persona was an act. Nope, she's as odd a bird on and off stage. Amazingly, beautifully weird. Love her.

[@catinthehat906]

If this lady isn't on the spectrum (like David Byrne) I'll eat my hat.

[@0rluh]

There’s something I love about her face

[@BlaqueCzar]

Atypical beauty. She can make herself and beautiful or ugly as she wants.

[@neurosin]

@@BlaqueCzar honestly, in a lot of her photos she looks like Scarlet Johansson. But I full agree with your second statement, though I think attractive people can mostly do that anyways.

[@e300yt]

@@neurosin I always thought she looks more like a cross between Shelley Duvall and Adam Driver

[@te9591]

@@neurosin I was definately seeing scarlett Johansson with a twist.

[@te9591]

@@e300yt I could see some of adam driver in the face length and taper.

[@audio9849]

I could listen to designer all day every day.

[@laurenfern]

Best sound mix of like any video of hers on here!! The instruments just sound so pure and joyful live. Hello bass. Jahh!

[@themysticmuse1111]

Right?? The sound on this,man....whoa

[@themysticmuse1111]

@503 Workshop and it is SUBLIME! ❤

[@BlaqueCzar]

This is legit my favorite version if this song. Sounds like something Eartha Kitt would have sung.

[@laurenfern]

@@BlaqueCzar omg I can imagine that. How cool!

[@louisvno7649]

KEXP youtube channel also has very nice mixes. Bit less reverb because room is smaller

[@gert6821]

Wow, so eine wunderbare Musik habe ich seit den Zeiten der frühen Genesis nicht mehr gehört. Peter Gabriel und Aldous Harding wären super.

[@neiladams5176]

what an amazing talent i cant stop watching her

[@ashleys562]

Its like, the more you use your mind to try to understand her writing the less you can comprehend. Her music is only understandable to me, and makes perfect sense when I turn off my front brain and just take it in. So abstract. Thankyou Aldous for being you. ❤

[@marinakaskorkas6528]

You saved me the last 3 years

[@simgrmehmej8075]

That makes two of us :) be well

[@mrantwes]

3 of us….

[@budgiespat7883]

What a mesmerizing talented aartist - congratulations to this young lady and her fellow musicians around for this lovely performance !

[@jamesarthur396]

Aldous you please me so well. I am an old man.

[@chrismathewsjr]

wonderful mix and filming thank you so much for caring

[@formercanadiancitizen4756]

A paradigm shift

[@tom58569]

Im feeling the artistic beauty the love the love the fear shes mesmerising

[@gert6821]

Danke für diese Künstlerin 💖💖💖💖💖

[@jurgennaeve3897]

She is my No.1 of 2020

[@odeandiefreude565]

can't wait to see her live, pleaseeeeeee

[@garymitchell277]

Magnifico and splendiferous

[@daskleinegluck4553]

Designer is such an incredible song!

[@user-vj4sk9yc7g]

An alien. Spooky and compelling.

[@benjamin1317]

A+ on all fronts.

[@piggystardust]

Such an amazing and unique artist...

[@justinlouismusic]

Best artist I’ve heard since Morrissey. Musical, poetic and funny.

[@magicjoeblack5761]

It does not get any better than this. End of.

[@peterharman1370]

great gig,brilliant sound

[@georgesg701]

LOVE

[@tolkorm]

My favorite

[@deano2000nz]

Great New Zealand (Aotearoa ) artist

[@limburgr]

What a great show it was, thanks for sharing this!

[@rinibos1535]

Thanks for the upload!

[@williamwhite999]

Brilliant

[@adamjamesgee8612]

Incredible, Evils cried where did they go LORD?

[@csilt]

This is fucking amazing

[@themysticmuse1111]

Superb. ❤

[@sierrabianca]

She really needed to be up doin the weird ass dance for the Barrell..still great.

[@lonsdalebelt9689]

yep get someone else on accoustic and dance baby dance!!!!!!!!

[@jordanprice226]

THAT DANCE

[@yuriarin3237]

I am in love with

[@juferreiro]

Ai amo tantoooo 🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@markwojama]

Amamosss!!!

[@juferreiro]

@@markwojama 🖤🖤🖤

[@markwojama]

@@juferreiro ( LLLLLL )

[@elhatesallofyou]

hopefully i can go see her next year in los angeles

[@hallelumaybe]

I’d love to see the full set🥲

[@andersc6593]

I’ve seen her live a couple times touring this album and man, each time was mesmerizing. Her performance style is so weird and captivating. Her band looks so bored though. Great players nonetheless.

[@TheGuitologist]

I guess I have to admit I'm just drawn uncontrollably to weirdos. Birds of a feather.

[@alexsalinas32381]

Far Out💜

[@TurquoiseAbyss1440]

Did anyone else feel a trance of fascination, confusion and implicit relatability during the Barrel? This was one interpretation of the queen of katebush quirkness that settled the dissonance. With vague lyrics is always the risk of projecting or over analysing. However it may be that Aldous feels trapped by the prospect of motherhood and isn't willing to procreate for love. "Showed the ferret to the egg, looks like the date is set". Aldous may even feel aggression towards this egg or potential child, hoping it to be consumed by the ferret. "When you have a child so begins the braiding and in that braid you stay" These lines reflects how stilted and frozen your sense of self is when a child takes over. She sings next, "Im not gettting lead along" to "feel their love". Aldous won't be complicit and bear a child for love. "I rushed in to hold down your page" She was consumed with attracting his attention. "Now you sleep side words you don't not read with me". She places the barrel over her face i.e. identity directly after these lines hinting that the relationship is just sex. Perhaps with the promise to read his inner life and he hers. That doesn't work out its just the barrel or sex and she is still alone even with him. "It's already dead. I know you have the dove" With the realisation that the barrel is just a procreative lure and there is no connection she is "not getting wet" or aroused. The relationship is over but he has the ability to set them both free. There seems to be a lyrical, humorous undertone. Aldous is wearing a jester like frill and phalic hat seems to mock the ridiculousness of how we trade ourselves and identities for sex. Perhaps seeing herself and others lured to the barrel or sex (the feel good oxytoxin and dopamine) and not wanting to sign in for the rest of that contract i.e. childbearing and being in the same place physically or mentally. This would be relatable as now many millennials only want causal connection and not families. Our culture's false romanticist promise of finding the ultimate companion may be a grand joke to Aldous. The reality is love drives us to mate and bear children; nothing more. Maybe you feel a different interpretation is more apt or this is too much. Genuinely curious to hear others' pov.

[@jaxonreiter7976]

CLAIRE KORTE It is very interesting to hear your thoughts on this because I have been wondering the same. I definitely agree that the lyrics make a mockery of sex, and I love that you point out how she is dressed in the music video. I also think that the song could pull on theme of a miscarriage; the shell/nut, the barrel, the dove, the date is set, and the symbolism of the egg being consumed by the ferret; the dove being “set free”. I believe that the barrel itself represents the relationship; pre-defined, constricting. The barrel is the construct of the soulmate or of a monogamous relationship. The hand arching out of the barrel could be the idea that there is more to love than this confinement to a single soul. I believe that “The wave of love is transient hunt, water’s the shell and we are the nut” plays with the impermanence of love and that she is commenting on how we are encapsulated in love (the wave). She continues to say “im not getting wet” referring back to this wave and how she’s not going to fall in love. I also agree that it has the sexual meaning building on the interpretation of the barrel as the lure for having children. “Look at all the peaches” builds on this view, and almost mocks the fact that there are so many people to have a child with, so why choose her? When she says “Looks like a date is set. Show the ferret to the egg. I'm not getting led along” I agree that it is with aggression but maybe towards the other individual in the relationship- the relationship is the spoiled egg that is to be consumed by the ferret; it is spoiled because its end is merely procreation. I really love your interpretation of “I rushed in to hold down your page” and “Now I sleep ‘side words you do not read with me”. I had never thought of these lyrics like that but totally agree. “in that braid you stay” is my favourite line in the song; the permanence and illusion of motherhood that changes the perception of “the barrel”, and directly contrasts the impermanence of love. I am still unsure on what she is meaning by “You shook at the ivory mantle As a poet, I knew to be gentle” and “But I saw a hand arch out of the barrel”, so if you have any further thoughts on these please let me know.

[@TurquoiseAbyss1440]

@@jaxonreiter7976 enjoyed your intepretation of the wave and your thoughts too! Thanks Jaxon Reiter will have a ponder and get back re the ivory mantle.

[@thelaymanisland7721]

Took it to be about the end of her relationship with song writer Marlon Williams, and the start of her pairing with h hawkline. Two of the many peaches

[@Trollificusv2]

No, that's pretty good, and worst case it conveys how much you've enjoyed the song. I do kinda think it's a little too much interpretation because AH strikes me as wanting to have both "sense-making" and mystery in her lyrics. I think, if something doesn't tie in perfectly, she's fine. Usually, if an artist could convey something so clearly, they'd write an essay and forgo the artistic cryptography, y'know? Maybe not. I know there's a market for _obscuratia et arcana_ , fake or sincere. Forinstance, I don't hear the negative emphasis on the section: "When you have a child So begins the braiding And in that braid you stay" I think it's perceptive that this starts immediately, and the idea of your relationship with a child as being comprised of the braided interactions and reactions and shared experiences, is rather beautiful. And if anyone sees her noting the lifetime nature of the relationship as being negative...sry, that's projection. (She very well may feel that way for herself, but I sense too much artist in her to adduce a universal from the personal here) Anyway, that's some impressive poetic coherence and meaning packed into 15 words. I actually stayed well back of the line where I'd actually have an interpretation for the whole song. I kind of like not knowing things once in a while.

[@katepaine2200]

On one interview she 1st expressed unliking interpretation then changed that it ok to have own meanings for lyrics.

[@andrepinto1394]

Aldous

[@ms.understood007]

Just discovered this amazing group. Absolutely swept away. Love the vibe. Thank goodness for these creators. Shows more to life than what my (United States) culture wants us to accept as what is. This is WHAT IS!

[@Trollificusv2]

Fuck off, blaming "America" for anything like that. It's the music companies, media companies and Hollywood that limit, or try to limit, what music is "popular" and who "gets rich" from it. All my life I've been able to find wonderful music. There's nobody trying to force you to like shitty, corporate-produced pop music, and if you DO, that's all on you, not anyone else. See if you can find the oppressive, evil, USA influence on the groups I've been blown away by this year: "Top Secret Drum Corps of Basel" "Wintergataan" 'Mamadou Diabate" (Malian kora) Hamer and Mitchell 'Childe Ballads" "Dakha Brakha" (Hungarian folk-experimental, with tall black fuzzy wool hats that would make Aldous jealous) "Lankum" - Modern Irish trad (with the incomparable Rady Peat, who has presence to rival AH, but completely different) Billy Strings (jazzgrass guitar wizard on the level of Tommy Emmanuel) Ningen Izu (30-year veteran Japanese heavy metal band) And that's not mentioning the J-pop and K-pop stuff. And, of course, Ms. Harding here (oh, and Marlon Williams) Don't make up imaginary oppression to try and make yourself seem more enlightened, just enjoy the music. I'm sure I'm leaving out a TON of magical performers here. Maybe give up easy on the "musicians" that are promoted to the level of 20 million hits. That's no guarantee of quality, it's a guarantee that some soulless corporation has them at heel. Dang. Sry, that got long-winded. But DO listen to some of those artists. I feel confident in identifying them all as just that: "artists".

[@morganghetti]

Nonsense comment. There are tons of unique amazing artists in the US.

[@ms.understood007]

@@Trollificusv2 And, again... misunderstood. Telling me to F-off is quit severe. I’m a lover of all music, American and abroad. The statement I made failed to point out what you thoughtfully did here. So, aside from your angers comments directed at me personally, thank you.

[@ms.understood007]

@@Trollificusv2 guess, what I’m getting at is American mainstream culture is not where it’s at for me, though gladly participate and appreciate.

[@ms.understood007]

@@morganghetti read comments above (if you so choose). Troll... makes good points. I respond. It is what it is. Cheers

[@alancameron-duff2198]

Its like Vashti Bunyan took some Ketamine....Brilliant love it!

[@dbasarich]

BAAAAD ASSSSS!!!! We need the creativity that has been lost since....1975?

[@bliss230]

Me likey lots

[@Sebastianporeiro76]

I am so afraid of her

[@Sebastianporeiro76]

and I love her

[@augopen]

Terrifying!

[@BlaqueCzar]

Me too thats a good fear though.

[@mmcmann9539]

When she is staring out to the crowd, it looks like she is picking a fight or having an angry staring contest. She isn't even looking at me, and I feel so uncomfortable. lol

[@CM-ur5rp]

I'm quite the opposite. She makes me feel safe and at home.

[@birdworldist]

Lovely. Hug.

[@thekinginthenorth989]

Full show please!

[@ajax428]

why cant i find more professional produced video of this angel? is her management that dumb! she needs to be heard and SEEN!

[@LLhikes]

04:23 The Barrel

[@Dreamskater100]

Is there a full set of this show? Thanks.

[@stormdude28]

Kia ora from WGN :)

[@jordanprice226]

I would fucking die for this woman

[@matjackson7667]

Such amazing footage, such a shame that they feel like they need to cut every half a second. You have lovely, well composed shots! Let them breathe, man! stop editing like a child lol

[@theMathJazz]

true

[@selvanegrra]

Is that a flugelhorn the drummer plays? baritone?

[@theonlygannonyouknow8257]

yeah it's a flugelhorn. his name is Gwion Llewellyn.

[@beyondher]

A rare bird

[@RontschDaPontsch]

I am always confused that real words that I understand come out of her mouth. I always expect more of an foreighn language like....alien or something.

[@Trollificusv2]

She sings with a slight accent of no known language. She seeks inspiration by staring directly at her own cerebral cortex. She dances like she's holding two handfuls of "dunnowhatitis". She writes "look at all the peaches" and "show the ferret to the egg". So yeah.

[@Lucas-vj8rr]

She moves like the stone roses singer

[@ivansaravanja2169]

[@sidneyjacques.]

if she was in a race she would be in first.

[@zephir9119]

Does anyone knows the guitar shes uses ?

[@itan96]

2:25

[@zilmars]

kylo Lorena............

[@SangnokHigh]

a direct spiritual descendent of Kate Bush

[@flashblackrabbit]

I really liked Kate Bush ...but my liking of Aldous Harding is bigger! But I'm much older now and very different to them. But kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ20n4Smi8moe5Y

[@Trollificusv2]

Ends up in a similarly interstellar region of musical and lyrical space, but I think with completely different creative approaches. I recognize how beautiful and intelligent Ms. Bush is, but it's just recognition. Yeah she's pretty, yeah she's well fit, yeah she's really, really smart. Allrighty then. Aldous just overwhelms me...I want to peel grapes for her, drive her across the Rockies, tune her guitars, read to her, listen to her, sing with her, time travel with her, and...oh, *sigh*. I've never been smart enough to avoid women who were supposedly "out of my league", (almost) never been intimidated; but Ms. Harding blows me into stuttering 14-year-old territory, lol.

[@alvarocastillo3204]

Beth Gibbons

[@ltpvs]

Carly Simon's weird-ass niece, and I mean that as a compliment

[@matjackson7667]

Why the fuck does this video cut away from Aldous so much?

[@andreyvaleroso]

She sorta looks like Scarlett Johannson loool

[@fugamantew]

Music to put flies at sleep... Weird phrasings though, that's is kind'o cool...

[@ryanstratton1925]

Trying to hard to be weird or does it come natural? It's hard to decide.

[@danbenoit1841]

Guessing it's conscious on her part....

[@hellovanite]

It's her creative process. She's always been a bit out the gate. I've know her music and seen her in Christchurch a few times in 2017

[@nateswitch]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.