Australian multi-hyphenate Ta-ku concludes a decades-long journey on his joyously reflective debut album Songs To Come Home To. The project of Mãori-Filipino artist and producer Regan Mathews, the 20-track collection also arrives as the final installment of a trilogy of releases that dropped around the same time. But unlike Songs To Break Up To and its sequel Songs To Make Up To, the new album gifts the listener with a celebratory sonic and emotional palette.
From its nostalgia-saturated cover (featuring Tamagotchi and Cup O’ Noodles) to the sleek and cathartic melodies that lie within, Ta-Ku confronts the bittersweetness of childhood with an incandescent gratitude. Whether he’s reckoning with attempts to find reconciliation in a relationship with their father — as on the mournful opening ballad “THE END” (feat. Thrupence, Will Paquin, Rum Gold) — or fantasizing of a liberating escape on “WAY OUT” (feat. Milan Ring, matt mcwaters, Questlove).
Every track on Songs To Come Home To burns with energizing optimism and grace that Ta-ku and his many, many collaborators generate. In “HOME (Kenny’s Interlude)” (feat. Joe Kenneth) a slew of poetics unfurl over a tender twinkle of piano keys and lend resplendent meaning to what home truly means to a person. “Home is rarely ever a place It’s in a face, in the infinite galaxies summarized in the eyes where pupils are as endless as the cycle of life,” Kenneth recites. “My heart constantly reminds me that geography has no hold on what I call home.”
This post may contain affiliate links, and Grimy Goods may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our independent, fan-powered media network.
Other standout tracks on the album include the ecstatic “SMILE” (feat. Xavier Omär, DAISY WORLD, ROMderful), a dreamy stroll through sunny tones and textures that glide alongside gleaming vocals, and “THE SCORE” (feat. Panama) which masks its heartache behind an irresistibly moody groove.
“THINKING OF YOU” — the only song without any features and the first Ta-ku wrote for the album — partially closes the record as this ethereal and melodically lush expression of love and appreciation toward his wife. As if creating such a monumental and emotional personal epic wasn’t enough, the album also features a bonus track in which he’s joined by Noé for a spellbinding cover of “TAKE ON ME.”
ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
BEST NEW MUSIC
After you’ve finished immersing yourself in the beaming soundscapes of his new album Songs To Come Home To, you’ll want to explore the ridiculously extensive catalog of music that Ta-ku has amassed over the years. The other two projects of his “Songs To” series are just as emotionally embroiling and traverse everything from galvanizing dance pop to hip-hop.
Visit Ta-ku on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Words: Steven Ward
Listen to Songs To Come Home To the new album from Ta-ku below!
Cool Gifts for Music Lovers
The best concert earplugs to protect your hearing
This guitar is adorable! Aspiring musician?
Style & Function: Impress friends at your next party
