Rating: NNNN
From their curious name to their poetic, abstruse lyrics, Melbourne four-piece future-soul band Hiatus Kaiyote exude otherworldliness. While there’s nothing super-Australian about their sound – no didgeridoos in the background – the ambient flourishes and nonconformist song structures evoke the untamed landscape of their native land. Singer Nai Palm captains this fearless ship, lending vocals that are equal parts soulful and ethereal – a scratchier Erykah Badu – either driving a song (Nakamarra) or becoming another one of a hundreds sounds (Mobius Streak).
An admirably tight 31 minutes in length (not including a Q-Tip-assisted bonus track), Tawk Tomahawk sounds very current, recalling the futuristic laptop sounds and funky bass of a Flying Lotus or Thundercat record. And, it’s hard not to think of Quadron’s Avalanche, another of this year’s progressive R&B albums. Still, this one is more abstract, more charmingly quirky – its own, unique beast. (See the island percussion, classic piano flourishes and jazzy vocals on The World It Softly Lulls.)
Top track: Lace Skull
Hiatus Kaiyote play the Garrison Wednesday (August 7).
