Tora - A Force Majeure (2021)

Aussie four-piece Tora relocated to Amsterdam ahead of recording their third album, but plans to tour and travel were halted by the pandemic, leaving them with little else but plenty of studio time to focus on the tender A Force Majeure. Opening track “In Deeper” draws you into the world of the album one layer at a time, evoking a sentimental atmosphere with its enveloping blend of electronic beats and effects with piano, vocals, and flute. “We’re in the quicksand, gripping to vices/We could understand, but we’re all divided,” Jo Loewenthal sings, setting the existential, reflective tone for the album. “Why Won’t You Wait” follows, a soft, bare reflection on the fear and challenges associated with long-distance relationships.

Electronic rhythms may sew this record together, but its most impactful moments come from the soulful, R&B-influenced vocal-focused tracks. Byron Bay singer Angie Hudson guests on “Fire Apartment,” her captivating voice drawing attention through its delicacy. It’s the first of three vocal collabs—Molly Nicholson and Asha Franco feature on “How Long” and final track “Metanoia,” respectively, their vocals adding a mesmerizing tone to each track’s already immersive sound. “Put Down Your Phone” sees Loewenthal asking a partner to focus on the important things. Over an understated, bouncy rhythm, he sings: “Put down your phone for a second so I can have your attention/Put down your phone for one minute so we can have a conversation/I don’t wanna be another mistake that you make when you are running off in another state of mind.”