LONG REGARDED AS AUSTRALIAN HIP HOP PIONEERS, THE HILLTOP HOODS HAVE TURNED ALMOST EVERY STONE OF SUCCESS YOU PRESENTED TO THEM. YET, THEY ARE A GROUP OF ARTISTS WHO THRIVE ON A CONSTANT CURIOSITY AND DESIRE TO PUSH THEMSELVES IN NEW AND FULFILLING DIRECTIONS.
Returning with their new album Fall From The Light, the trio embrace a touchstone chapter of their career – a record that redefines their core sound and vision, the ninth studio record represents the Hoods at a brilliant new creative peak. A deliberate labour of love and intention, Fall From The Light has been carefully crafted over a span of years – six, in fact, since their last album – a decision that has ultimately led to some of the group’s most concise and expansive music to date.
Fall From The Light adds to the Hoods’ detailed tapestry of sound and influence. Produced by One Above, with additional production from Sesta and Suffa, Fall From The Light retains the hallmarks of what makes that classic Hilltop Hoods sound, while also highlighting new expert flashes of texture and vibrancy courtesy of the Hoods and a range of special guests.
Featuring singles ‘The Gift (ft. Marlon)’, ‘Don’t Happy, Be Worry’ and the recently released ‘Never Coming Home ft. SIX60’, the 12-track offering takes listeners on a journey that feels as ambitious and triumphant for the fans, as it has been for the Hoods themselves.
“This album has been an exercise in patience. Six years is a long time between albums, but there’s a good reason for that. There was a lot happening, in the world and in our lives. But it turns out (from my perspective anyway), that time was the album’s strength, not its weakness. We’ve never been so thorough, so pedantic with an album before. The result is something that’s been carefully crafted with an extreme attention to detail. It’s an album that we’re really proud of, and a body of music that we can’t wait to share with everyone.” – Suffa
Album opener, ‘Fall From The Light’, reintroduces the listener to the expansive realm of sound the Hilltop Hoods have been building for close to twenty years. Featuring longtime collaborator, vocalist Nyassa (also heard on ‘The Moth’), the title track is an impactful moment of re-entry for artist and fan alike – a three minute welcome back into the fold. Nyassa’s vocals strike as a trusted guide, as she weaves in and around the dynamic of Pressure and Suffa, the poignancy of a song such as this sets the tone for Fall From The Light while also serving as reminder of the Hood’s masterful use of sonic light and shade.
Moments of anthemic sonic freefall manifest across Fall From The Light: ‘Something Bigger Than This’ strikes as an album highlight, based on its sonic purity and ability to emotionally captivate with ease. And then on ‘Never Coming Home’, Fall From The Light sees the Hoods share space with Matiu Walters, vocalist of acclaimed NZ act SIX60, the first of two collaborations between these massive names.
Bolstered by renowned Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer Ross Irwin (The Cat Empire, The Bamboos) on trumpet/flugelhorn, ‘Never Coming Home’ stands as a perfect example of the Hoods’ natural strength as artists who are looking to create moments of nuance within the big swells and musical soars. ‘Get Well Soon’, the second SIX60 collaboration on Fall From The Light, feels like the opposite side of the same coin – the emotional punch is shared between the two tracks, yet ‘Get Well Soon’ holds itself in an air of introspection; lyrics delivered with direct intent.
Hilltop Hoods have long maintained a winning streak when it comes to their collaborations and in their connection with SIX60, the listener gets to experience two heavyweights of Australian and New Zealand music combining in an artistic venture that amplifies the individualism of both.
“We spent two days just songwriting with them. It’s not something we do normally. We had One Above in there as well, so there’s about eight of us packed into my little studio, writing for two days. We instantly had a good chemistry with them as people, and as writers as well. Everything else has taken so long, but with SIX60, we knocked out three tracks for the album during that time. This is a 12 track album and a quarter of it was written in those two days, which is not something that usually happens for the Hoods!” Suffa
Fall From The Light retains the Hoods’ signature humour; their ability to offer commentary, whether it personal or broadly speaking, layered with wicked wordplay and self-awareness, remains a strong drawcard of this album. ‘Don’t Happy, Be Worry’ was the first example of this from Fall From The Light, while elsewhere on the record, the listener is able to hear Pressure and Suffa manoeuvre through otherwise darker lyrical content with levity – exemplified by wordplay expertly delivered on ‘The Omelette’ and ‘Rage Against The Fatigue’.
‘Rage Against The Fatigue’, with its booming horns and vibrant keys, channels the energy of insomnia, providing one of the many relatable moments Fall From The Light has to offer. ‘The Omelette’ meanwhile, is a darkly funny insight into the vague memories attached to losing yourself under the influence – navigating heady times in realising certain substances aren’t for everyone. With time and experience, sometimes a cheeky brain scramble will bring clarity.
As the Hilltop Hoods look ahead to what their next decade looks like, the rhythms, sound waves and patterns that have created Fall From The Light propel them forward. Blending fun, vulnerability and vignettes that highlight their masterful cadence and technical flow, the ninth record from the Hilltop Hoods may be long-awaited, but it does not waste time in getting to work upon arrival.
12 tracks that reposition the group as champions of their sound, dynamic as ever when it comes to wordplay and delivery, Fall From The Light is more than a return to form – it is a reminder of the Hoods’ staying power.
“We put more years into it than any other of our albums because we wanted it to be our best work to date. Putting it out after so long feels more monumental and exciting than ever.” – Pressure
2019 THE GREAT EXPANSE
Platinum status, ARIA #1
2016 DRINKING FROM THE SUN WALKING UNDER STARS RESTRUNG
1x Platinum status, ARIA #1
2014 WALKING UNDER STARS
3x Platinum status, ARIA #1
2012 DRINKING FROM THE SUN
2x Platinum status, ARIA #1
2009 STATE OF THE ART
3x Platinum status, ARIA #1
2007 THE HARD ROAD RESTRUNG
Platinum status
2006 THE HARD ROAD
2x Platinum status, ARIA # 1
2003 THE CALLING
Platinum status
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