Tawk Tomahawk

Artist: Hiatus Kaiyote

Released: July 2013

Length: 30m 37s 

My review:

This is the debut album from Hiatus Kaiyote, the Australian quartet comprised of Nai Palm (singer/guitarist), Paul Bender (bassist), Simon Mavin (keyboardist) and Perrin Moss (drums). Together they create a sound that is heavily influenced by Funk and Soul but also guided with a firm hand by Classical Music, people have categorised it as Future Soul, Alternative Soul and my favourite Neo Soul, whatever label you give it, they exceeded in producing a fantastically tight and impressive album that has been a firm favourite from the very first moment I heard it.

Mobius Streak kicks things off with gently strummed guitar, softly setting up the album before we are joined with an inviting bass line, some sparse drums, alluring vocals and finally the fuzzy distorted sound of the electric keyboard. This song builds from the melody of 'Le Cygne (The Swan)' from 'The Carnival Of Animals' written by Camile Saint-Saens, which was popularised on the cello and piano, the Hiatus Kaiyote version brings in more elements, enriching the original and making it the first highlight of the album for me. Next up we have The world It Softly Lulls where the drums and later the piano take centre stage ahead of the wandering lyrics that grew out of a recurring dream from vocalist Nai Palm. Leap Frog is the first instrumental and leads us to a darker soundscape with an air of mystery surrounding it, the use of drums around the mid point brings a little structure and order as the tension builds until we get the cathartic release as we enter into the next song, or movement. This comes in the form of Malika, where we already feel in a happier and brighter space, noted initially by the airy and higher pitched notes and delicate guitar plucking. I love the glissando effect of the bass that juxtaposes all we heard before and reminds us of the uncharted territory we were in the previous song, we are not totally out of the woods yet. This is the second song that interpolates another much older piece of work, this time it is 'Flower Duet (Sous le dôme épais)' an operatic number where I believe the original soaring highs can be heard beautifully harmanising with Nai Palm's vocals in parts, again another huge highlight for me. Once more we are pulled in a new direction, this time with Ocelot, another great example of the compelling and striking way Nai Palm uses her voice as well as the intonation to great effect. Boom Child has a brilliant bass presence while simultaneously instigating the idea that things are taking a darker turn again. However Lace Skull opens with a soft guitar but with some grand, resonant drums that hint at something building, then there are a few crescendos as the track increases in volume as well as intensity until we drop off and return to the simplicity of the guitar and vocals, a definite highlight for me. After this high we are gently brought back down, in pitch by the keys and in mood with the inclusion of some bird songs, prior to a slow and steady drum beat and some accompanying vocalising for Rainbow Rhodes. The final instrumental is Sphynx Gate, which carries on in a similar fashion with the sluggish tempo of the drum beat, some more vocalising from Nai Palm but with additional arpeggiation and a small solo on the keys. Finally we have Nakamarra my stand out song which I go into more detail below, I love having my favourite song at the end of the album, this means I look forward to it throughout the album. That in no way means I am racing through the record to get there, I love the journey this album takes you on and the final destination is simply the crowning glory.

This works so well as a complete piece, all the tracks hang well together, while each of them explores and delves a little deeper, constantly taking you in new directions. The balance is just right with instrumental tracks and those that feature Nai Palm singing; the vocals work well to bring you back when a few of the songs stray from the more classical approach, but also as a common denominator, tying all the tracks together and giving that sense of cohesion and belonging that, for me, is so crucial for creating a concise and effective album.

Stand out song: Nakamarra

Nakamarra was the first song I heard by Hiatus Kaiyote and it instantly had me hooked, that was over 10 years ago and this song and indeed the album has always been a regular, both on my turntable and in my headphones ever since. It was such a different and unique sound when I first heard it all those years ago, whereas now, over time, it has morphed into the familiar and comforting sound that I have become so accustomed to hearing as it quickly became one of my favourites after each new play. Some of the album can get a little overwhelming with some darker parts and strange sounds but this song is definitely the most radio-friendly one of the bunch, a good entry point for first time listeners. For me this is the song that best celebrates and showcases Nai Palm's talent as a vocalist, as she effortlessly glides up and down the scales while putting her own stamp and signature style on the track. There is also a version that features Q-Tip rapping a verse that is included in the Spotify album but not on most of the vinyl releases (there is one available with a bonus 7" that includes this and another remix), they are both fantastic but I feel like I prefer the original as it is more in keeping with the rest of the album.

When to listen: 

At my uni house we would put this record on the turntable while watching kaleidoscope videos via youtube on the TV, the visual aid satisfying the eyes while the ears are taken care of by the music. They compliment each other well often feeling like they were working together, with one shifting and changing , keeping up with the other, giving the illusion of a harmonious partnership. I found that the added visuals provided an extra element and different way to experience the music and actually allowed me to focus with a greater intensity on the sounds I was hearing.

Spotify: Listen here

Vinyl:

I love the artwork for this one, the deep red is gorgeous and I always like to have the lyrics included on the inner sleeve. I own the 180 gram, 2013 reissue that was pressed in Europe on Dutch label 'Music On Vinyl' and I have no complaints whatsoever, it is super quiet but has a really well balanced sound with a great dynamic range. There are a few more coloured versions that came out over the last 5 years that also have solid reviews and are well worth checking out if you want to own this album on wax, here is the link for the version I own - Discogs link

Other useful links:

Band page for music, merch and upcoming shows - https://hiatuskaiyote.com/

If you would like to experience the audio-visual treat for the senses then I can recommend this kaleidoscope video to play with the album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxxqdrrpgZc&ab_channel=HDCOLORS-ColorfulKaleidoscopeswithAddedValue

If you like this try these:

Sault - 5

Khruangbin - Mordechai

Homeshake - Fresh Air