Dance Therapy

Ora the Molecules debut album Human Safari was as vibrant as a butterfly crawling out of its chrysalis, but as it turns out, Nora Schjelderups musical evolution was far from complete. After the worst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, she became Norways queen of disco, a sought-after DJ who worked with Royksopp, Todd Terje, and other dance music luminaries. This part of her career couldnt help but inform her work as Ora the Molecule, and Dance Therapy captures how much she and her music have changed. Where Human Safari was a wonderland of untamed art-pop in the vein of Kate Bush and Cocteau Twins, Schjelderups second album offers slinky, spacious grooves like "Intergalactic Dance," a disco reverie with glimmers of Giorgio Moroder and Justice within its stardust swirl. Influences aside, Ora the Molecules personality still radiates throughout Dance Therapy, particularly on "Loveskatt," where the rhythmic bounce of Schjelderups Norwegian vocals is unmistakable in its hip-shaking flirtation. Her avant-pop roots are evident in the albums conceptual focus on love and humanity -- two things in seemingly short supply when Dance Therapy was released -- and in its framing. On the opening track "Becoming a Human," Schjelderup wants to connect with people; on the finale "Becoming Ora," she finally connects with herself. The fantastical qualities of Ora the Molecules music convey this journey vividly, spanning the lush, strings-laden liberation of "Nobody Cares" and the silvery Daft Punk gleam of "Cyber Fever" to the bittersweet dancefloor moves of "New Years" and the hypnotic declaration of identity of "Let Me Dance." As good as Human Safari was, Dance Therapy reveals Ora the Molecule has far more range than might have been expected. Schjelderup is still dancing to her own beat, but the feelings she taps into are universal. ~ Heather Phares