The Etel Adnan book talks about how memories stalk you, and that really resonated with me:.. 'I found myself in an aviary full of shrieking birds'.

[5][6] On October 17, she released a second single, "Words I Heard", also accompanied by a radio edit and a music video directed by Bahto.

And surrounded by all this noise, this eternal series of accidents, Holter the poet chooses to process it all and create something beautiful".

[22] Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Heather Phares stated: "Holter answers the chaos of 21st century life by following her bliss; the results are a constellation of moments that celebrate the fullness of her music and, as always, make for fascinating listening.

"[15] Jim Wirth of Uncut said, "There are jarring moments but Holter's quest to channel the clatter of the universe produces transcendent beauty too".

[26] In a more critical review, Chris White of MusicOMH said, "Aviary is not a great album—it's too much of an ordeal for that accolade, requiring multiple listens to even start to engage with meaningfully.

[27] Mojo's Andrew Male gave the album a mixed review, writing, "It's all so sad, and surrounded by 80-plus minutes of restless, questing uncertainty".

[20] Consequence's David Sackllah wrote, "While some edits could have crafted a more concise record, this grand, indulgent piece finds Holter at the height of her ability.

[16] Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian said, "Holter doesn't drop quite enough of these joyful crumbs to cajole the listener through the entirety of this 90-minute epic—yet there remains a glut of beauty and braininess in store for those willing to stick around".