The Lost Score

Key Takeaways

• First new Haiku Salut material since 2021.
• Collaboration began at 2019 Flatpack Film Festival.
• Seven-year production delayed by pandemic and logistics.
• Album explores gender politics through dystopian soundscapes.
• Potential Mercury Prize contender despite niche genre.

Summary

British trio Haiku Salut teamed with Australian jazz pianist Meg Morley to release "The Lost Score," their first collection of new material since 2021. Originating from a 2019 Flatpack Film Festival commission to score the silent film "People on Sunday," the project stretched over seven years due to pandemic disruptions and cross‑continental coordination. The duo distilled over two hours of recordings into ten tracks that foreground gender‑politics themes and a darker, dystopian tone. Critics rate the album 8/10 and suggest it could be a strong Mercury Prize candidate.

Pulse Analysis

Haiku Salut has built a reputation for defying genre conventions, blending folk, classical, lo‑fi indie and electronic textures across five albums and numerous EPs. Their latest effort, "The Lost Score," arrives after a three‑year recording hiatus, signaling a renewed creative surge for the Birmingham‑based trio. By partnering with Australian contemporary jazz pianist Meg Morley, the group taps into a tradition of indie artists scoring silent cinema, a niche that adds depth to their already eclectic catalog and attracts listeners seeking immersive, narrative‑driven music.

The collaboration originated at the 2019 Flatpack Film Festival, where Haiku Salut and Morley were tasked with reimagining the 1930 German silent film "People on Sunday." Over two hours of experimental recordings were exchanged via email across continents, a process stretched by COVID‑19 restrictions and personal commitments. The resulting ten‑track album condenses these sessions into concise pieces that probe gender politics and the darker side of human interaction, using unsettling titles like "Needle Drop" and "Toxic" to reinforce a dystopian atmosphere. This thematic focus aligns with a broader cultural shift toward socially conscious art in the music industry.

Industry observers note that "The Lost Score" could become a dark horse for this year’s Mercury Prize, highlighting how avant‑garde projects can break into mainstream recognition. The album’s blend of chamber pop instrumentation, self‑built synths, and jazz improvisation exemplifies a growing appetite for hybrid sounds that challenge traditional market categories. As streaming platforms favor playlists curated around mood and narrative, releases like this stand to benefit from algorithmic promotion, while also inspiring other indie acts to explore interdisciplinary collaborations that marry music with film and social commentary.