Daisy Jones & The Six's 'AURORA' Gives Life to a Fictional '70s Rock Band
Photo: Pamela Littky/Prime Video
Daisy Jones & The Six’s AURORA is a rare glimpse into what classic rock music from the '70s could sound like today.
As the soundtrack to a television show, the chances were hit-or-miss for this album to authentically embody the free-spirited glow of rock bands like Fleetwood Mac and. Yet, the 11-track debut feels like a reunion tour, ranging from compelling electric guitar anthems to soft-spoken ballads. With writing led by Blake Mills and performed by Riley Keough and Sam Claflin, the fictional Diasy Jones & The Six is backed by real musical ingenuity.
Following the clear introductory tune, “Aurora,†“Let Me Down Easy†could easily be pulled from the B- sides of Rumours. The Wurlitzer-esque warbling of the synth bantering with the guitar riff is an uncanny emulation of '70s instrumental tones. “Two Against Three†is the “Landslide†of the album, letting the moody instrumental layers take a breath while a stripped-back guitar leads this track. Keough lets a rawness crackle at the edges of her voice, flipping into a fragile, emotive place akin to Stevie Nicks’ graceful sound. There’s even a twang of country in her delivery, driving home the Fleetwood Mac parallel even further.
The half-time breakdown in “Look At Us Now (Honeycomb)†is AURORA’s emotional peak. It’s the section that catches you off guard, a poignant shift in your footing halfway through a steady album. The sudden drop in the song’s pace highlights Keough and Claflin’s harmonies, letting the organ resonate wider and the light strum of the acoustic peek through the arrangement. All at once, the desperation in the writing is a tangible ache, rather than an understandable echo.
Moving forward, a conversational bass line fronts the charming “You Were Gone,†while “More Fun To Miss†is a risqué pitstop in sensual distortion. “Please†ventures a little closer to the line of soundtrack writing with its cinematic surge of background vocals floating over a stomping piano track. Claflin flaunts a bit of vocal flair, leaning into grit for this solo track. “The River†then launches us back into Graceland, infusing a bluesy spunk within the tight harmonies and slide guitar.
With only a touch of Hollywood theatrics, AURORA is a surprisingly authentic embodiment of the radiant energy icons like Fleetwood Mac personified. Mills, alongside numerous esteemed co-writers, crafted a reverse time capsule of sorts with Daisy Jones & The Six—a gateway to the '70s for modern listeners.
Listen to AURORA below:
