Album Review Hatchie - Giving The World Away

The music of Hatchie is less a genre and more a mood. The project of Brisbane-based Harriette Pilbeam, Hatchie creates cinematic, sweeping dream-pop that evokes the longing of the Cranberries and melancholy of Cocteau Twins. While Harriette’s first full-length album as Hatchie, ‘Keepsake’, was all about the ins and outs of romantic love, this follow-up is more inquisitive and self-exploratory, and just a touch darker - while still building on her signature nostalgic sound. Lead single ‘This Enchanted’ is classic Hatchie, an earworm drenched in wistful reverb and fuzzed-out vocals, but ‘Giving the World Away’ transcends past dream-pop into more adventurous territories. The daring ‘The Rhythm’ recalls ‘90s trip-hop and psychedelia, while ‘Quicksand’, co-written with Olivia Rodrigo producer Dan Nigro, has her somberly looking inwards: “I used to think that this was something I could die for / I hate admitting to myself that I was never sure,” she sings. “I’m trying, but what’s the use in trying when I’m left with all this disillusionment?” But Harriette doesn’t let herself get too mournful, even when she is asking questions of her own self and reclaiming her self-confidence. Album highlight ‘Thinking Of’ is a journey into the scary world of love, and how it’s worth a leap anyway: “How do you know?” she sings. “So you wanna be in love? I wanna be in love.” ‘Take My Hand’ was inspired by a Red Hand Files entry by Nick Cave, where he writes to a young woman struggling with her body image. “Trust what you fear, use it to your advantage,” she sings. Later on, she laments: “You don’t have to change.” It’s good advice.