CHAI have become known for their more frantic numbers, but I’m a bigger fan of the moments where they let their guard down and get a bit sentimental. “Sayonara Complex” features plenty of goofy fun, but it’s the sweetness sneaking through that really seals it for me. “Horechatta,” off the just-released debut album PINK, flashes similar looks (down to a video riffing on the here-is-what-we-did-on-vacation clip of “Sayonara Complex”). It’s straightforward, and rather stripped down, featuring some spacious guitar playing and a light beat that lets the vocals stand in the spotlight. And that’s it…no sudden turns, no shouting, nothing silly. CHAI do all of those things well, but somehow they do earnest even better. Listen above.
