Hatchie – Giving The World Away

Label: Secretly Canadian
Released: 22nd April 2022

Hatchie’s 2019 debut album ‘Keepsake’ hit the absolute sweetest of indie pop sweet spots and marked her out as a pristine pop songwriter and one of the brightest indie pop talents. ‘Giving The World Away’ seeks to capitalise on that success by aiming even higher and making everything even more bolder and brighter.

The record sees Hatchie breaking away from the limits of her sweet but simple earliest songs and moving her sound on from dream pop drenched retro vibes into something that hits harder and is even more emotionally resonant. Opening track ‘Lights On’ sets the tone and booms In powered by some driving drums and a soaring melody. This is everything great about Hatchie on a much bigger scale.

Elsewhere, a song like ‘The Rhythm’ is off the wall industrial noise pop that defies description and gleefully smashes through any perceptions. There’s a feeling that this is truly the album that Hatchie wants to make and she can now let her personality and diversity flourish.

A number of the songs here are simply sublime, for example the gorgeous melody of ‘Sunday Song’ and ‘Quicksand’s’ modern alt pop rush that places Hatchie firmly in the lane of fellow vibrant pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae while also still staying true to the sounds that first made her name. Hatchie is ready to take things to the next level.