8/10
After getting a twinkle of mainstream publicity as the voice behind the latest John Lewis Christmas advert last year, Aurora has quickly become one of this year's most in-demand new artists. A flurry of singles and collaborations later and she is now ready to deliver her first studio album, and as her name suggests, 'All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend' is an atmospheric and mesmerising affair.
Opening with the tranquil 'Runaway', the record quickly breaks its initial preconceptions with a number of gigantic productions in the form of 'Conqueror' and 'Running With The Wolves'. But what stands out most on this release is the dexterity of Aurora's voice. Whether its on a ballad or a rampaging epic, her voice is able to play the soft and hard parts her style demands and it is this diverse direction that makes her such an engaging talent.
It may still be early days for the young Norwegian but this new album certainly creates an impressive benchmark. She has managed to conceive a record that breaks all the standard conventions of a singer-songwriter release and deliver something truly unique and spellbinding.