mono.mika

Hats (1989)

★★★★½ Jun 28, 2026

This album moves so slowly and carefully that at first it can almost feel unreal. Then after a while the mood becomes the whole point. The Blue Nile leave an unusual amount of space in these songs and use it well, so every synth line and every small emotional shift matters more. Paul Buchanan sounds close and far away at the same time, which suits the record because it is full of longing without ever becoming melodramatic. Very restrained album, very beautiful, and one that seems to get deeper the quieter you meet it.

Hounds Of Love (1985)

Hounds Of Love | 1985 | UK | EMI | KAB1, EJ 24 0384 1, EJ2403841 | Vinyl LP, Album, Stereo

★★★★½ Jun 28, 2026

What still surprises me about this album is how technical it is while feeling so emotional. A lot of smaller writeups talk about how Kate Bush turned studio tools into part of the storytelling, and you can hear that all over this record. The first half has the obvious songs, but the second half is what really sells me because The Ninth Wave feels like pop becoming its own little cinema. This UK EMI LP feels like the right home for it too, very vivid and dramatic without losing the softness. Strange record, beautiful record, and still way more alive than most pop this ambitious.