Tomora Come Closer Review: 90s Dance Music Revival

My Coachella experience started with a glitchy television and a lagging stream, but it ended with the most hypnotic discovery of the festival. Because my tech was acting up, I accidentally clicked into the wrong live feed, only to find two ethereal Nordic women pounding giant drums to a relentless techno beat. I was supposed to be watching something else, but I couldn’t look away. It was tribal, futuristic, and completely unexpected.

It wasn’t until later that I realized what I had stumbled upon: Tomora. This isn't just another indie project; it’s a high-powered collaboration between Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora and Tom Rowlands, one-half of the legendary Chemical Brothers. Their album, Come Closer, is the result of that collision. It is an unapologetic, ecstatic love letter to 90s dance music, written by someone who helped define the era and someone who seems to have descended from a different dimension to sing over it.

The Big Beat DNA and the 90s Revival

To understand Come Closer, you have to understand the specific lineage Tom Rowlands brings to the table. We’re talking about the architect of Big Beat—that mid-90s movement that fused heavy breakbeats with psychedelic rock and techno energy. In this album, Rowlands doesn’t just mimic that sound; he revitalizes it.

The core of the record is built on pulsating basslines and driving four-on-the-floor rhythms that feel like they were ripped straight from a 1994 warehouse rave. However, the secret weapon here is Aurora. Her haunting, otherworldly vocals float above the mechanical chaos, providing a melodic anchor that 90s club tracks often lacked. While the era was famous for looped vocal samples and repetitive chants, Aurora delivers full-bodied emotional narratives.

On the title track, Come Closer, the transition from a sparse, atmospheric opening into a full-blown dance floor banger is masterfully executed. It captures that specific moment in a DJ set where the tension finally snaps and the room explodes. It’s familiar territory for Rowlands, but Aurora’s presence makes it feel like a brand-new discovery.

Polished Production vs. Raw Energy

If there is a critique to be made, it’s that the album occasionally feels a little too curated. For those who grew up on the gritty, sometimes dangerous-sounding underground rave scene of the early 90s, Come Closer might feel a bit sanitized. The production is pristine—every kick drum is perfectly tuned, and every synth sweep is exactly where it should be. It’s a product of two masters at the top of their game, which means some of the "happy accidents" and rough edges that defined early electronic music are missing.

However, that polish is also what makes it so accessible. You don't need to be a crate-digging vinyl purist to appreciate the craft here. The album bridges the gap between the experimental textures of techno and the soaring hooks of modern pop. It’s a comforting haunt for the veterans and a high-energy entry point for the uninitiated.

The Gift Personas: Matching Sound to Gear

If you’re looking to share this album with someone else, it helps to think about how they’ll actually consume it. Because the production is so dense and the influences are so specific, pairing the music with the right hardware makes a massive difference.

The 90s Nostalgia Seeker This is for the person who still has a box of cassette tapes from 1996 in their garage. They lived through the golden age of Big Beat and want to feel that energy again. For them, the best way to experience Come Closer is through a dedicated pair of studio monitor headphones.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is the gold standard here for a reason. These headphones are famous for their accurate bass response, which is essential for Rowlands’ signature production style. You need to be able to feel the sub-bass without it muddied by the mid-tones, allowing Aurora’s vocals to cut through clearly. If you really want to win at gifting, pair these with the vinyl edition of the album to give them that tactile, analog connection to the past.

The Audiophile Newcomer Maybe you know someone who is just starting to move beyond Top 40 radio and into the deeper world of electronic music. For this listener, it’s all about the layers. Come Closer is a dense record with a lot of sonic "ear candy" hidden in the background.

Gift them a high-fidelity streaming subscription to a service like Tidal or Qobuz. Unlike standard streaming, these platforms offer lossless audio that preserves the intricate details of Rowlands’ synthesizers. Hearing the record in high resolution allows the listener to appreciate the depth of the soundstage—it makes the music feel like it’s happening around you rather than just at you.

The Festival Wanderer This persona lives for the live experience. They’re the ones who spend their summers in dusty fields at Coachella or Glastonbury. Since Tomora’s live set is what initially sold me on the project, this listener needs a way to bring that festival energy home.

A robust, portable Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Charge or Bose SoundLink is the perfect companion. These speakers are built to handle high volumes without distorting, making them ideal for someone who wants to turn their living room (or a campsite) into a makeshift dance floor. It’s about capturing the spirit of the performance—the giant drums, the heavy techno pulse, and the pure joy of the beat.

Longevity and the Final Verdict

The ultimate question for any retro-inspired project is whether it has staying power or if it’s just a fleeting exercise in nostalgia. While Come Closer might not reinvent the wheel, it certainly polishes it to a brilliant shine.

It succeeds because it doesn’t just look backward; it uses the tools of the past to build something that feels urgent in the present. It’s an invitation to get lost in a rhythm that feels both ancient and brand new. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the Chemical Brothers or a newcomer drawn in by Aurora’s ethereal pop, this album delivers exactly what it promises: a high-energy, emotive, and ultimately ecstatic journey.

It’s a solid addition to any collection and a perfect gift for anyone who believes that the best way to handle the chaos of the modern world is to simply get on the dance floor and move.