What’s Australian, tongue ‘n’ cheek and made facemasks cool before Covid-19? Correct, Haiku Hands. The trio of energetic, unconventional anthem queens self-titled debut album has taken the best of club and rave music and blended it with a pumping, punk-like attitude and artistic concepts in one funky-neon NutriBullet.
It would be easy to take the Aussies’ first record on the surface. The driving bass and jumping drops could simply be pigeon-holed in with the mundane, repetitive tracks that you hear in Tiger Tiger. Look beyond that though and you gather what these three are really about. A rebellion against the very same mundane, a kick-off-your-shoes-ball of fun that leaves you feeling euphoric and powerful as fuck – the repeat of ‘Fuck this shit/Imma do this if I want when I want/Imma get it’ is the perfect bellow of defiance to get any live crowd rowdy.
Openers ‘Not About You’ and ‘Manbitch’ set the precedent. They’ve racked the streams as singles and are the first indication of the manner of Haiku Hands. Amongst the thumping instrumental are lyrics that are a defiant punch in the face: ‘I’m going to tear up the lexicon with a hexagon and my sexy thong on/No matter where your head is gone or where you’re from I’ma take you on.‘ The delivery of lyrics like this are shameless and rebellious. The accompanying synths and basslines make the songs and their exploration of social norms more accessible, turn your head to the side with the music and you stare the Haiku Hands tongue ‘n’ cheek right in the face, and it’s up on the dance floor.
The lyrics can be nonsensical, but they are like their own portable and thrilling party, not made to be taken seriously but to just to have a shit load of fun with. ‘Fashion Model Art’ uses these portable party lyrics to tilt your head and poke fun at the modern fashion and art spheres. Combine the lyrics and teasing of modern life with their silky live choreography and you have quite the show, one I have been lucky enough to see.
What is obvious is that Haiku Hands are genreless, songs like ‘Jupiter’ show their MGMT-esque indie-pop side (probably something they learnt whilst supporting Tame Impala in the US), whilst ‘Car Crash’ ditches the upbeat rave sounds for a one-chord guitar driven ballad. It’s weird and unexpected but shows the range of these young ladies, a big middle finger to everyone as they have shown they can do everything and that they can do it well.
An impressive and singular record of fun; Haiku Hands have provided the release we all need as we start to re-enter modern life. You can guarantee that once dance floors around the world reopen, you’ll be strutting along to Aussie twangs and modern mocking of these attitude-filled popstars. World-conqueres in the making.
Haiku Review:
Tongue-in-cheek tunes got
Us shouting, Aussie Aussie
Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Listen to Haiku Hands on Spotify and Apple Music. Check out our latest magazine featuring Declan McKenna, Shame and more HERE!
