Rob’s Album of The Week: Hiatus Kaiyote’s Love Heart Cheat Code
Regardless of the type of music they put out, Hiatus Kaiyote consistently embraces a distinct flow with each song they write. This runs through the styles of jazz, R&B, hip hop, funk, psychedelia and trip hop while having the ability to take hold of whoever is listening. It’s a testament to the Melbourne act’s originality and accessibility while exemplifying how stellar their creative output is. The latest installment of this approach is their fourth full-length release Love Heart Cheat Code, which was released via both the labels Brainfeeder and Ninja Tune on June 28. This album has vocalist and guitarist Nai Palm, bassist Paul Bender, keyboardist Simon Marvin and drummer Perrin Moss going from the improvisational structure of their previous record in Mood Valiant to prewritten compositions that were refined during the recording process.
As with the band’s previous material, Palm’s soulful vocals have a major presence while being backed up by a cohesive array of harmonies. Some songs incorporate an electronic edge while others convey syncopated instrumentation with a groove being ridden from beginning to end. This isn’t anything new for this band of Aussies, but you can definitely sense a progression taking place. There’s an evident amount of sophistication, but it’s way more subtle instead of coming off as pretentious. As an act goes throughout their career, sometimes they unwittingly get stuck in their ways, but Hiatus Kaiyote defiantly proves that it doesn’t always have to be the case.
Along with the quartet being the core creative nucleus, there were also many other musicians involved in the making of Love Heart Cheat Code. With Mario Caldato Jr. handling the production, Hiatus Kaiyote brought in the likes of guitarist Tom Martin, flutist Nikodimos and Taylor “Chip” Crawford, who is credited with the inventing of the frello. This incorporation of talents brought things to a whole new level. For a more in-depth look at this particular notion, there’s only one way to do so. That’s by checking out my top tracks off of the Album of The Week:
“Make Friends” hits the senses right from the get-go, which is mostly due to Palm’s direct lyrical delivery. It’s a prime example of the fantastic harmonies that I previously mentioned. There’s more of a funky vibe coming through in “Dimitri” with Moss’ beats serving as the background. My favorite tune off of Love Heart Cheat Code has to be “Cinnamon Temple”. I really enjoy Bender’s bass being the driving force throughout the song with a substantial amount of distortion coming across. I also have to mention that the rendition of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” that concludes the album is fantastic.
Hiatus Kaiyote have been touring around various parts of the globe in support of Love Heart Cheat Code with their next show being at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York City on July 2. Other notable dates include July 9 at the Salt Shed in Chicago, July 20 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, September 17 for a hometown show at the Forum Melbourne, September 27 at the Astor Theatre in Perth, Oct 6 at the 02 Apollo in Manchester, United Kingdom and October 16 at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. There might be a couple dates in Asia, but I honestly don’t know where they are so you can decipher for yourself by checking out the tour page on the band’s website. In the meantime, grab a copy of the album. If you’re craving something that’s stunningly original while guaranteeing a blissfully pleasant listening experience, this is what you’ve been looking for.
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