Head Like a Kite // Electronic rock band from Seattle. Part Theater! Part Dance Party!

ALTERNATIVE PRESS / REMIX (10/08) REMIX (2/06)/ MAGNET / URB (4/08) / URB (2/06) / PORTLAND MERCURY / STRANGER (9/08) /STRANGER (5/06) / STRANGER (8/07) / SF BAY GUARDIAN / NEW YORK POST / AMERICAN SONGWRITER / ALL MUSIC GUIDE / PERFORMER (9/08) / PERFORMER (2/06) / TUCSON WEEKLY / EAST BAY EXPRESS / SEATTLE PI / LA WEEKLY / LOS ANGELES TIMES / LONDON TIMES / BEAUTIFUL DECAY / TRIPWIRE / SEATTLE TIMES / SEATTLE WEEKLY (6/08) / SEATTLE WEEKLY (7/08) / STRANGER (4/08) / STRANGER (6/08) / STRANGER (7/08) / STRANGER (3/07) / SOUND / KEXP / THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS (8/08) / THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS (7/08) OREGONIAN / WESTWORD / ONION / SAN DIEGO READER / SEATTLE WEEKLY (1/07) / SOUNDCHECK CAMPUS CIRCLE / POP MATTERS / CHORD / PLAYBACK / REDEFINE / CONSUMER ELECTRONICS / / NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (4/06) / SYNTHESIS / NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (6/06) / THE PHOENIX / CLEVELAND SCENE / ARIZONA STAR / FRESNO BEE / RUN-OFF GROOVE / SAN DIEGO CITY BEAT / CLEVELAND FREE TIMES / NEW HAVEN REGISTER / VENUS / POPWRECK(ongoing) (5/08) / POPWRECK(ongoing) (8/08) / SONGS FOR EATING AND DRINKING / DONNYBROOK (6/08) / DONNYBROOK (8/08) / WIRELESS BOLLINGER (7/08) / WIREBOLLINGER (4/08) / INSOMNIA RADIO / ABSOLUTE PUNK / APIARY / PAPER THIN WALLS / CULTURE MOB / SO MUCH SILENCE / SEATTLE SUBSONIC / YAKIMA HERALD / SHUFFLEBOIL / AIDING & ABETTING / CRASHIN IN / MUSIC REVIEWER /

REVIEW SUMMARY

KEXP
"Quite possibly the best release out of the Northwest this year."

URB - (April 08)
"A true genre-twisted party album that appropriately captures the sounds of an eclectic America."

THE STRANGER
The dreamy soundtrack to your imaginary trip into space... pitch-black but layered with bright, starry bursts of breathy vocals, strings, and unexpected guitar freak-outs."

ALTERNATIVE PRESS
5 out of 5. "Gorgeous pop melodies with electronica bleeps."

REMIX - (Oct 08)
"An electro-pop album of depth and detail."

REMIX - (Feb 06)
"Random Portraits is a beautiful pop album that pays personal homage to the past but has one eye on the future."

MAGNET
"Sonic Youth guitar treatments upon Stereolab keyboards on top of Primal Scream-style vocal loops....a well-edited scrapbook of retro-futurism."

THE STRANGER (preview)
"Infectious songs filigreed with the sort of vintage synth frippery that gives Tape Op readers sweaty palms."

THE STRANGER(August Feature)
"Entirely enjoyable and creatively invigorating. Expands the boundaries of pop."

URB - (Feb 06)
4.5 stars. "Samples of lush soundscape playback with a mellow Dandy Warhols vocal. Start to finish, it's a full soundtrack worth watching (listening to.)"

SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN (Pick of the Week)
"Think Pinback's melodic tonalities with guitar treatments by Brian Eno. HLAK's live shows are an aural-erotic experience."

NEW YORK POST
"Intriguing... groovy pop album."

AMERICAN SONGWRITER
"Mixing tons of sampling and bits of electronica with alternative rock in the vein of The Pixies and Morphine, Random Portraits comes out sounding like a sane man's Nine Inch Nails."

ALL MUSIC GUIDE
"This is one of those rare albums that is both immediately accessible and strangely thought-provoking at the same time. Highly recommended."

PERFORMER
"This album is an eclectic masterstroke, soothing and infectious all at once."

EAST BAY EXPRESS
"Pure pop majesty... this collage of retro memories, wispy Dinosaur Jr. hooks, and indie electropop works without a hitch."

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
"Excellent debut... Fans should find much love in the band's jerky and often sinister sounds." Featured in Top 10 Bands to Watch in 2006

LOS ANGELES TIMES
Buzz Bands - "A sonic tapestry."

LONDON TIMES
"Great debut album."

BEAUTIFUL DECAY
"This album is an experience to enjoy."

THE TRIPWIRE
"A brilliant compilation of atmospheric samples that pays tribute to the past within the context of the present... An innovative piece, framing scrapbook memories of childhood into a musical re-emergence."

CHORD
"The music is spectacular, fusing some of the more addictive guitar chord banter in the business. Your mind will be dwelling on this album for days after."

PLAYBACK:stl
"Wholly enthralling. A candystore of aural treats that dizzle and fizzle like Pop Rocks for the ears."

REDEFINE
"He's the kid who got it right... Driving ambient electronica which was made to be listened to in fast cars."

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
"Attention-grabbing drum beats and odd, yet likeable melodies. It's a trip-hop record that achieves its out-of-the-ordinary feel by incorporating unique and enjoyable instrumentation such as the mellotron and koto."

THE OREGONIAN
"A catchy electronic pop album."

NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (April)
"Catchy, smart... Sounds like they made a contempo indie rock album and gave it to a good DJ to do surgery on it."

SYNTHESIS
"Electronically atmospheric photo album. An expansive gallery of communal art."

WESTWORD (Denver)
"Head Like a Kite shouts through the static. Sometimes rocking, sometimes popping, always intriguing material."

NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (June)
"These are tuneful, tastefully arranged songs. Random Portraits is both art and commentary on art. "

THE PHOENIX (Providence, RI)
"I've fallen for Head Like a Kite. The Seattle band writes dreamy pop tunes that are lined with dissonant electronic squiggles."

CHICAGO READER
God, we look sexy.

CLEVELAND SCENE
"...deeply intimat

ALTERNATIVE ULSTER
"Very punchy and welcoming electro-indie rock. Beautifully ties together a host of satisfyingly left-field pop songs into one concise whole."

LONDON TIMES
"A great debut album."

UNPEELED
"Brilliant." Impressive stuff and reeking of lethality."

ITCHY
"A trip through the most important soundscape influences of the last 20 years. This is an album that is a triumph of content and style."

BUZZ
"A truly impressive record. A cinematic wonderland of sounds. An amazing collection of songs."

THE SKINNY (Review)
" 'Entroducing'-with guitars. Reels you in."

THE SKINNY (Feature)
"Sets out to blur the boundaries of film and music." HLAK's "Random Portraits..." picked among top 5 albums by Skinny staffers.

LEEDS GUIDE
"Forward thinking pop music. Truly cinematic in scope."

ROCK A ROLLA
"Intriguing set of tunes. More than a few surprises along the way with some trip-hop moments and other interesting arrangements, making for a very fine pop collection."

SHROPSHIRE STAR
"This potent brew of trip hop, krautrock and electronic effects makes for a vibrant and infectious release. Epic, cinematic pop."

ROCK SOUND
"An exeptional record. An album of diversity that echos DJ Shadow, Four Tet, Primal Scream, and Sonic Youth. Hangs together perfectly, sweeping between sensations. Highly recommended."

THE BIG ISSUE - CYMRU
"A gorgeous assortment of ambient, trip happy electronica."

AESTHETICA
"Seductive... the European soundscapes of Neu! And Can are invoked, while on "Your Butt Crack Smile," cool chunky riffs ala Sonic Youth pleasure the senses."

LEAMINGTON SPA HERALD OBSERVER
"Einmo samples sound snippets from his parent’s films which he blends to charming effect with sunshine indie pop and dubby ambient noodlings."

BRANDED
"A real depth and enjoyment to this album."

BURTON
"Enjoyable electro guitar-rock sprinkled with a wide and interesting variety of instruments and effects."

THE CRACK
"Four Tet with more tunes."

HEAD LIKE A KITE HOME BIO VIDEOS MUSIC PHOTOS PRESS SHOWS MERCH CONTACT
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Click on the magazine names below to see the review. The following are North American reviews. Also see what the European magazines are saying. ALTERNATIVE PRESS / REMIX (10/08) REMIX (2/06)/ MAGNET / URB (4/08) / URB (2/06) / PORTLAND MERCURY / STRANGER (9/08) /STRANGER (5/06) / STRANGER (8/07) / SF BAY GUARDIAN / NEW YORK POST / AMERICAN SONGWRITER / ALL MUSIC GUIDE / PERFORMER (9/08) / PERFORMER (2/06) / TUCSON WEEKLY / EAST BAY EXPRESS / SEATTLE PI / LA WEEKLY / LOS ANGELES TIMES / LONDON TIMES / BEAUTIFUL DECAY / TRIPWIRE / SEATTLE TIMES / SEATTLE WEEKLY (6/08) / SEATTLE WEEKLY (7/08) / STRANGER (4/08) / STRANGER (6/08) / STRANGER (7/08) / STRANGER (3/07) / SOUND / KEXP / THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS (8/08) / THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS (7/08) OREGONIAN / WESTWORD / ONION / SAN DIEGO READER / SEATTLE WEEKLY (1/07) / SOUNDCHECK CAMPUS CIRCLE / POP MATTERS / CHORD / PLAYBACK / REDEFINE / CONSUMER ELECTRONICS / / NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (4/06) / SYNTHESIS / NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (6/06) / THE PHOENIX / CLEVELAND SCENE / ARIZONA STAR / FRESNO BEE / RUN-OFF GROOVE / SAN DIEGO CITY BEAT / CLEVELAND FREE TIMES / NEW HAVEN REGISTER / VENUS / POPWRECK(ongoing) (5/08) / POPWRECK(ongoing) (8/08) / SONGS FOR EATING AND DRINKING / DONNYBROOK (6/08) / DONNYBROOK (8/08) / WIRELESS BOLLINGER (7/08) / WIREBOLLINGER (4/08) / INSOMNIA RADIO / ABSOLUTE PUNK / APIARY / PAPER THIN WALLS / CULTURE MOB / SO MUCH SILENCE / SEATTLE SUBSONIC / YAKIMA HERALD / SHUFFLEBOIL / AIDING & ABETTING / CRASHIN IN / MUSIC REVIEWER / REVIEW SUMMARY KEXP "Quite possibly the best release out of the Northwest this year." URB - (April 08) "A true genre-twisted party album that appropriately captures the sounds of an eclectic America." THE STRANGER The dreamy soundtrack to your imaginary trip into space... pitch-black but layered with bright, starry bursts of breathy vocals, strings, and unexpected guitar freak-outs." ALTERNATIVE PRESS 5 out of 5. "Gorgeous pop melodies with electronica bleeps." REMIX - (Oct 08) "An electro-pop album of depth and detail." REMIX - (Feb 06) "Random Portraits is a beautiful pop album that pays personal homage to the past but has one eye on the future." MAGNET "Sonic Youth guitar treatments upon Stereolab keyboards on top of Primal Scream-style vocal loops....a well-edited scrapbook of retro-futurism." THE STRANGER (preview) "Infectious songs filigreed with the sort of vintage synth frippery that gives Tape Op readers sweaty palms." THE STRANGER(August Feature) "Entirely enjoyable and creatively invigorating. Expands the boundaries of pop." URB - (Feb 06) 4.5 stars. "Samples of lush soundscape playback with a mellow Dandy Warhols vocal. Start to finish, it's a full soundtrack worth watching (listening to.)" SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN (Pick of the Week) "Think Pinback's melodic tonalities with guitar treatments by Brian Eno. HLAK's live shows are an aural-erotic experience." NEW YORK POST "Intriguing... groovy pop album." AMERICAN SONGWRITER "Mixing tons of sampling and bits of electronica with alternative rock in the vein of The Pixies and Morphine, Random Portraits comes out sounding like a sane man's Nine Inch Nails." ALL MUSIC GUIDE "This is one of those rare albums that is both immediately accessible and strangely thought-provoking at the same time. Highly recommended." PERFORMER "This album is an eclectic masterstroke, soothing and infectious all at once." EAST BAY EXPRESS "Pure pop majesty... this collage of retro memories, wispy Dinosaur Jr. hooks, and indie electropop works without a hitch." SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER "Excellent debut... Fans should find much love in the band's jerky and often sinister sounds." Featured in Top 10 Bands to Watch in 2006 LOS ANGELES TIMES Buzz Bands - "A sonic tapestry." LONDON TIMES "Great debut album." BEAUTIFUL DECAY "This album is an experience to enjoy." THE TRIPWIRE "A brilliant compilation of atmospheric samples that pays tribute to the past within the context of the present... An innovative piece, framing scrapbook memories of childhood into a musical re-emergence." CHORD "The music is spectacular, fusing some of the more addictive guitar chord banter in the business. Your mind will be dwelling on this album for days after." PLAYBACK:stl "Wholly enthralling. A candystore of aural treats that dizzle and fizzle like Pop Rocks for the ears." REDEFINE "He's the kid who got it right... Driving ambient electronica which was made to be listened to in fast cars." CONSUMER ELECTRONICS "Attention-grabbing drum beats and odd, yet likeable melodies. It's a trip-hop record that achieves its out-of-the-ordinary feel by incorporating unique and enjoyable instrumentation such as the mellotron and koto." THE OREGONIAN "A catchy electronic pop album." NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (April) "Catchy, smart... Sounds like they made a contempo indie rock album and gave it to a good DJ to do surgery on it." SYNTHESIS "Electronically atmospheric photo album. An expansive gallery of communal art." WESTWORD (Denver) "Head Like a Kite shouts through the static. Sometimes rocking, sometimes popping, always intriguing material." NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE (June) "These are tuneful, tastefully arranged songs. Random Portraits is both art and commentary on art. " THE PHOENIX (Providence, RI) "I've fallen for Head Like a Kite. The Seattle band writes dreamy pop tunes that are lined with dissonant electronic squiggles." CHICAGO READER God, we look sexy. CLEVELAND SCENE "...deeply intimat EUROPEAN MAGAZINES ALTERNATIVE ULSTER "Very punchy and welcoming electro-indie rock. Beautifully ties together a host of satisfyingly left-field pop songs into one concise whole." LONDON TIMES "A great debut album." UNPEELED "Brilliant." Impressive stuff and reeking of lethality." ITCHY "A trip through the most important soundscape influences of the last 20 years. This is an album that is a triumph of content and style." BUZZ "A truly impressive record. A cinematic wonderland of sounds. An amazing collection of songs." THE SKINNY (Review) " 'Entroducing'-with guitars. Reels you in." THE SKINNY (Feature) "Sets out to blur the boundaries of film and music." HLAK's "Random Portraits..." picked among top 5 albums by Skinny staffers. LEEDS GUIDE "Forward thinking pop music. Truly cinematic in scope." ROCK A ROLLA "Intriguing set of tunes. More than a few surprises along the way with some trip-hop moments and other interesting arrangements, making for a very fine pop collection." SHROPSHIRE STAR "This potent brew of trip hop, krautrock and electronic effects makes for a vibrant and infectious release. Epic, cinematic pop." ROCK SOUND "An exeptional record. An album of diversity that echos DJ Shadow, Four Tet, Primal Scream, and Sonic Youth. Hangs together perfectly, sweeping between sensations. Highly recommended." THE BIG ISSUE - CYMRU "A gorgeous assortment of ambient, trip happy electronica." AESTHETICA "Seductive... the European soundscapes of Neu! And Can are invoked, while on "Your Butt Crack Smile," cool chunky riffs ala Sonic Youth pleasure the senses." LEAMINGTON SPA HERALD OBSERVER "Einmo samples sound snippets from his parent’s films which he blends to charming effect with sunshine indie pop and dubby ambient noodlings." BRANDED "A real depth and enjoyment to this album." BURTON "Enjoyable electro guitar-rock sprinkled with a wide and interesting variety of instruments and effects." THE CRACK "Four Tet with more tunes."