Live Review: Treat yourself with the first taste of Hatchie's 'Sugar and Spice' EP

9 April 2018 | 9:40 am | Max Lewis

Hatchie has treated us to the first taste of her debut 'Sugar and Spice' EP, with a gorgeous title track, as well as announcing her debut headlining tour.

For someone obsessed with shoegaze and dream-pop like me, Brisbane's HATCHIE is a breath of fresh and reverb-filled air. She's set to dominate 2018 with her recently announced debut EP, Sugar and Spice, and if the lead titular single is anything to go by, it could be one of the best releases of the year. She's also gracing us this July with her debut headlining tour of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Getting her start in bands like GO VIOLETS and BABAGANOUJ, 2017 was the year Harriette Pilbeam went solo as Hatchie, dropping her luxurious debut, 'Try'. A mix of 90s shoegaze and dream-pop distilled through her own knack for songwriting and lush arrangements, 'Try' and her followup 'Sure' won her worldwide success, earning spots at BIGSOUND  last year and SXSW in March this year, as well as coverage from international music press. Now with Sugar and Spice due on the 25th of May via Ivy League Records, 2018 is shaping up to be even bigger for Hatchie, and we're absolutely going along for the ride.

Leaning closer to the indie-rock side than her previous cuts, 'Sugar and Spice' is still recognisably Hatchie. With notes of Belinda Butcher, her voice glides effortlessly over reverb-soaked guitars and poppy drums that keep a consistent, dream-like pace. The chorus is simple but oh-so-good, with an ear worm hook that you'll be humming under your breath all day long. Special mention should go to the mixing as well - it's bursting at the seams with layers of fuzz and reverb yet showcases remarkable restraint, and Hatchie's vocals are the perfect point where they are stylistically buried yet still very prominent.

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Every song Hatchie has dropped so far feels so familiar and snug, like putting on your favourite, frayed sweater straight out of the dryer. Even listening to 'Sugar and Spice' for the first time, it felt like I'd been listening to it forever; not in the sense that it's derivative (it's anything but) but in the sense that Hatchie's oeuvre is so warm and welcoming, so recognisably her that it's like a hug in audio form.

Sugar and Spice drops May 25th via Ivy League Records. She's also announced her debut headlining tour of Australia, the dates of which you can check below, and the tickets of which you can nab right HERE.

Hatchie Sugar & Spice EP tour

Thursday 12 July - Worker's Club, Melbourne

Friday 13 July - Oxford Art Factory Gallery, Sydney

Saturday 14 July - Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane

(Supporting DMAs)

Friday 1 June - The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+)

Saturday 2 June - Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide

Sunday 3 June - Metropolois, Fremantle (18+) Public Holiday Eve

Friday 8 June - The Forum, Melbourne (18+)

Saturday 9 June - The Forum, Melbourne (18+)

(sold out)Sunday 10 June - The Enmore, Sydney (licensed, all ages) Public Holiday Eve

(sold out)Monday 11 June - The Enmore, Sydney - Queen's B'day Public Holiday

IMAGE BY ALEX WALL

WORDS BY MAX LEWIS

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