Hikes - “extra mile” (feat. The Kraken Quartet)

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With…Sheer Mag, Girlpool, Mitski

Six years past their debut full-length Friends, Hikes has shown evolution in both their songwriting and tight, rhythmic performance on latest record Mahal Kita. The most immediate standout are the math-rock guitar lines and percussion that define Hikes, a striking disposition from the band’s otherwise mid-tempo indie rock sound. Having music with so much heart still be performed with intricate precision and shined tightness is impressive and Hikes makes it work with a mix of punk and breezy rock/pop spirits. Mahal Kita is an exceptionally warm record that is still constantly moving, incorporating jazz stylings to moments both slow and contemplative and of storming intensity, often shifting across that spectrum within songs rather than just track to track. (Kevin McStravick)