Tomora's Come Closer: A 90s Dance Music Celebration

Before becoming a fixture on major festival lineups, Tomora remained largely under the radar for many music enthusiasts. The discovery of this innovative musical project happened entirely by chance during a streaming mishap—a lagging television led to tuning into an unexpected performance that would prove impossible to ignore. What unfolded on screen was a mesmerizing visual and sonic experience: two ethereal Nordic women commanding giant drums while a relentless techno beat pulsed beneath their performance, creating an immediately compelling artistic statement that demanded further investigation.

The initial encounter was so striking that despite other pressing musical priorities—including catching Drain at Coachella on the weekend lineup—a mental note was made to explore this fascinating act more thoroughly. It wasn't until after this serendipitous discovery that the full significance of the collaboration became apparent: Tomora represents a unique pairing between Aurora, the acclaimed Norwegian singer-songwriter known for her ethereal vocals and introspective songwriting, and Tom Rowlands, one-half of the legendary electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers. This revelation transformed what seemed like a random discovery into something far more noteworthy within the context of contemporary electronic and dance music.

The marriage of Aurora's distinctive vocal sensibility with Rowlands' production expertise creates something that feels both fresh and deeply rooted in musical history. Aurora brings her characteristic ethereal quality and emotional depth, while Rowlands contributes decades of experience crafting hypnotic, driving electronic soundscapes. Together, they've created a project that respects the rich heritage of 90s dance music while pushing it forward into new territory. Their collaborative chemistry is evident from the very first moments of their performed work, suggesting a shared vision that goes beyond simple artist featuring.

The album "Come Closer" stands as a testament to this creative synergy, functioning as an ecstatic love letter to the dance music of the 1990s. Rather than simply pastiche or nostalgic recreation, the project demonstrates a genuine understanding of what made that era's music so transformative and culturally significant. The production choices throughout the record echo the warm, analog-tinged quality of classic 90s dance tracks, from the lush string arrangements that frequently appear to the driving four-on-the-floor kick patterns that anchor many of the compositions.

What distinguishes "Come Closer" from other contemporary attempts to revisit 90s dance aesthetics is its refusal to feel like mere revivalism. Instead, Tomora's electronic production incorporates modern sensibilities and contemporary recording techniques while maintaining spiritual allegiance to the source material. The album doesn't pretend the intervening decades haven't happened; rather, it synthesizes the progression of electronic music from that seminal period to the present day. Each track demonstrates thoughtful consideration of how dance music has evolved while maintaining the essential elements that made it so vital.

Aurora's vocal contributions throughout the album showcase her remarkable range and emotional intelligence. Rather than simply floating over the electronic production, her voice becomes an integral component of the songwriting, often functioning as another instrument within the densely layered arrangements. The interplay between her ethereal melodies and the industrial, mechanical precision of Rowlands' production creates fascinating textural contrasts that drive much of the album's emotional impact. Her performance choices—when to push forward expressively and when to hold back and let the production breathe—demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how dance music vocals function within the broader context of the track.

Tom Rowlands' contributions represent a return to the driving, kinetic energy that defined The Chemical Brothers' most celebrated work, though filtered through a distinctly different artistic lens. His production decisions throughout "Come Closer" show an understanding that effective dance music production requires both immense technical skill and a willingness to take risks. The drum programming throughout the album displays particular attention to detail, with breakbeats that reference classic house and techno traditions while incorporating unexpected variations and syncopation that keep listeners engaged across multiple listens.

The sonic palette employed across the album encompasses everything from warm, vintage synthesizer textures to cutting-edge digital sound design. Rowlands demonstrates mastery over both domains, using retro equipment sounds not as crutches or shortcuts but as deliberate artistic choices that serve the broader compositional vision. The album production quality is exceptional throughout, with each element—from the highest synthesizer lines to the deepest bass frequencies—occupying its own distinct space in the mix. This clarity and definition would have been technically impossible during the 1990s, yet Rowlands wisely avoids using modern production capabilities to clutter the sound or obscure the essential simplicity of well-crafted dance music.

Structurally, "Come Closer" demonstrates an understanding of how to construct compelling electronic music compositions that work both as individual tracks and as part of a cohesive album statement. Rather than endless repetition with minor variations—a common pitfall in dance music—each track develops and evolves, introducing new melodic elements and rhythmic variations that maintain listener engagement. The pacing between more introspective moments and peak-hour dancefloor material shows careful album sequencing that respects both the journey of the listening experience and the practical reality of how this music might function in live contexts.

The cultural moment in which "Come Closer" arrives deserves consideration as well. In an era when 90s nostalgia permeates popular culture across multiple mediums, this album arrives as something more than simple recycling of past styles. Instead, it represents genuine artists engaging meaningfully with the music that influenced them, creating something that honors those influences while maintaining its own artistic identity. This approach resonates with contemporary audiences who appreciate both authenticity and innovation, who want music that respects tradition without being imprisoned by it.

For those who lived through the era when dance music dominated both underground clubs and mainstream radio, "Come Closer" offers genuine emotional resonance alongside sonic pleasure. The album captures something essential about what made that music so vital and transformative—the sense of transcendence that can occur when human voice and electronic sound combine to create something larger than the sum of its parts. For newer listeners discovering this sound through Tomora's work, the album serves as an accessible entry point into the rich history of electronic and dance music while establishing itself as a significant contemporary work in its own right.

The Coachella performance that introduced many people to Tomora only hinted at the depth and sophistication present throughout "Come Closer." What appeared on a festival stage as a visually striking spectacle—two women commanding giant drums against a backdrop of pulsing electronic production—translates into the album as intricate, carefully constructed compositions that reward close listening. The project demonstrates that commercial viability and artistic integrity need not be in conflict, that music can simultaneously celebrate a beloved musical era while pushing forward into new territory. In "Come Closer," Tomora has created something that functions beautifully both as a nostalgic journey into the 90s and as a compelling statement about the future possibilities of electronic dance music.