Description
Hiatus Kaiyote – Mood Valiant – 140 Gram Gold In The Dark Vinyl Record
Hiatus Kaiyote’s Mood Valiant, released on June 25, 2021, is a richly textured, emotionally resonant album that finds the Australian neo-soul collective pushing their genre-defying sound into new and more intimate territory. It marks their first full-length project in six years since 2015’s Choose Your Weapon, and it reflects a period of profound change, particularly for lead vocalist and guitarist Nai Palm (Naomi Saalfield), who battled breast cancer during the album’s development. The result is a record that is both sonically adventurous and deeply human, full of gratitude, transformation, and creative liberation.
Musically, Mood Valiant blends soul, jazz, R&B, electronica, and funk, with an experimental spirit that’s become the group’s signature. What distinguishes this album from their earlier work is its emphasis on emotional clarity and restraint. Where past albums often stretched out into kaleidoscopic, free-form compositions, Mood Valiant tightens its focus—delivering 12 concise, carefully constructed tracks that are no less innovative, but more deliberate in their emotional impact.
The album opens with “Flight of the Tiger Lily,” a lush, orchestral introduction that sets a contemplative tone. It’s followed by “Sip Into Something Soft,” a dreamy, jazz-inflected groove that showcases Nai Palm’s ethereal voice and the band’s tight, atmospheric musicianship. One of the central themes of Mood Valiant is resilience, and the title itself nods to this—drawn from a story Nai Palm tells about her mother owning two cars: one black (for when she felt low), and one red (for when she felt bold). That dichotomy—between darkness and defiance—runs through the record.
Standout tracks like “Get Sun” (featuring legendary Brazilian arranger Arthur Verocai) bring a jubilant energy, fusing South American orchestration with neo-soul in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. The arrangement swells with life, mirroring the song’s lyrics, which celebrate vitality and light after darkness. “Red Room,” by contrast, is sparse and meditative, created in a single take. It captures a quiet moment of introspection, enveloped in gentle harmonies and warm textures.
Lyrically, Nai Palm explores everything from mortality and healing to intimacy and spiritual awakening, with a poetic sensibility that avoids cliché in favor of metaphor and feeling. Her voice—elastic, expressive, and richly layered—is at once raw and otherworldly, capable of both whisper-soft vulnerability and soaring intensity. The band—Simon Mavin (keys), Paul Bender (bass), and Perrin Moss (drums)—remains one of the most innovative rhythm sections in modern music, anchoring the record with grooves that feel organic and futuristic at once.
Production-wise, Mood Valiant is dazzling. It’s detailed without being dense, experimental without being alienating. It was mixed and co-produced with Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys, Seu Jorge), whose presence helped shape the album’s smooth, analog warmth. The mix of live instrumentation, samples, and electronic flourishes creates a lush, immersive world that rewards deep listening.
The album was met with acclaim. Reviewers praised it for its emotional depth, musical sophistication, and refined experimentation. It was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards, continuing Hiatus Kaiyote’s recognition as a vital force in contemporary soul and alternative R&B. Artists like Anderson .Paak, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake have cited or sampled their work, and Mood Valiant reaffirmed why: their music is limitless in scope, yet deeply personal in effect.
Mood Valiant is more than just a comeback album—it’s a testament to survival, growth, and the healing power of music, balancing complex arrangements with emotional directness. It’s Hiatus Kaiyote at their most mature, yet still untamed, proving once again they are one of the most visionary and emotionally honest groups in modern music.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Flight Of The Tiger Lily
Sip Into Something Soft
Chivalry Is Not Dead
And We Go Gentle
Get Sun
All The Words We Don’t Say
Hush Rattle
Rose Water
Red Room
Sparkle Tape Break Up
Stone Or Lavender
Blood And Marrow
