REVIEW: Tora – High Enough

Hailing from Byron Bay, Australia, the five-piece electronic/chillwave group Tora continues to make waves in their country’s explosive music scene. Artists such as Cassian, Rufus, and Lancelot have helped illuminate Australia’s thriving electronic scene, and Tora holds no punches in their continuation of this trend.

Tora’s sound exemplifies the power of artist collectives; the five-person group allows for a wider range of sounds and a deeper variance of tones throughout the song. Rather than relying on an individual’s ability to create the electronic soundstage, their specialized focus allows for an attention to detail that shows on every level of ‘High Enough‘. The track maintains an organic authenticity that suggests that their instrumentation is recorded live rather than stemming from a production drumkit.

The twinkling synths provide the iconic chillwave tone while the sporadic claps offset the vocal’s soft-spoken lyrics. Their Facebook page cites Bon Iver and James Blake (amongst others) as influential to their sound, and the comparison resonates with every kick of the drum. High Enough manages to stand out despite these parallels.

While their name is derived from the Greek word ‘τώρα,’ meaning now, one ought to look out for them in the months/years to come as they continue to grow as a group and develop their sounds.

Words by Austin Bell