New music – Haiku Salut

This article was first published on Louder Than War on 14 February 2013.

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Their debut album is due out at the end of March and we can’t get enough of the atmospheric instrumentals of Haiku Salut.

Proving that indiepop doesn’t have to be all whimsical or backward glancing Haiku Salut are breaking out of the scene with an debut full of atmospheric instrumentals.

A delayed release means the debut won’t be released until the end of March but lead single Los Elefantes is a brilliant introduction to what’s to come.

It is, in fact, a perfect combination of continental accordion  electro beats and percussion creating a creeping yet up tempo track. In fact the rich layers of instruments are part of the intrigue; elsewhere they use – in their words – “accordions, ukeleles, glockenspiels, pianos, loopery and laptopery to create a soundscape that has been likened to early múm, Detektivbyrån and the soundtrack to Amélie”

 

It can be dark, it can be playful but it’s an endlessly fascinating and vast soundscape to explore and luxuriate in.

 

And if it’s that good to listen to it’s equally great to see performed. The ease at which the band swap instruments and move around each other is almost a dance, a wonderfully choreographed but very natural, mellow dance.

 

We can tell you their debut is a very special collection of atmospheric instrumentals, playful retro stabs and mesmerising beats but more about that in an album review in a few weeks time.

For now, get to know Haiku Salut with this single and look forward to what’s to come.

All words by Sarah Lay.