They’re contenders for the APRA Song of the Year and they recently dropped into Falls Festival for a set or two. Let’s take a look back at Hiatus Kaiyote‘s sophomore album that propelled them further than they thought they could go. That’s right, we’re talking about future-soul, funk time travellers Hiatus Kaiyote and Choose Your Weapon.
Before we get stuck into the jams, let’s talk about the album artwork. We see a trend rising out of this new kind of funk. With the same style, another creature arises out of the soundwaves. From a threatened wolf on the debut album to a raging baboon on the second cover, this is a pattern we hope sticks around.
But the question is how did Hiatus Kaiyote match the success of their love ballad “Nakamarra”? Without the notable star power of Q-Tip, the spotlight was truly on Nai Palm‘s vocals. There are certainly a few things that helped, Simon Mavin‘s keyboards for one. Paul Bender‘s bass and Perrin Moss‘s percussion/drums can’t hurt either.
When the lyrics aren’t rolling off the tongue (“Laputa”), they’re going somewhere new with samples that transport you elsewhere. “Choose Your Weapon” opens the album with a very relaxed, sun twinkling on dusty stained glass doorways kind of mood before ramping up to something techno and terrifying. Before you know it we’re winding down, shutting off and all communication is lost.
Some tracks lend themselves more to the soul side of things, picking up more percussion and groovy beats. “Jekyll” and “Atari” lean more to this persuasion. Ultimately, what made this album such a splash in the pools of critical acclaim was their free approach to the music. The 18 song long tracklist allows itself a fluidness in direction that other sophomore projects might not have permission for. Hiatus Kaiyote are the kind of crowd that need to be let loose, not ordered about. And that’s why they continue to blossom.
With little rhyme or reason, Hiatus Kaiyote are zipping between continents steadily over the next few months. They’ll tour through Australia in March before departing for Jakarta and the UK, so keep an eye out for those sparing dates. Until then, there’s always Choose Your Weapon to groove with in anticipation.
Review Score: 8.9 out of 10.
Choose Your Weapon is out now.
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