Kai Tak "Designed In Heaven Made In Hong Kong"

Los Angeles-based collective Kai Tak, led by producer Chris King (Cold Showers, Still Ruins, House of Harm), returns with Designed in Heaven Made in Hong Kong, a lush exploration of moody soundscapes that blend shoegaze, trip-hop, and electronica. The album channels cinematic tension and urban grit, drawing inspiration from the paradoxical energy of King’s birth city, both real and imagined, as seen through the lens of John Woo and Wong Kar-wai films. Each track unfolds with collaborators contributing distinct textures, creating a dense, immersive sonic portrait of the city’s restless streets and neon-lit alleyways.

King’s compositions oscillate between reflective atmospheres and propulsive rhythms, balancing dreamy textures with tangible urgency. From brooding synth layers to layered percussion and expansive sound design, Designed in Heaven Made in Hong Kong captures the duality of Hong Kong—the romanticized and the lived-in, the cinematic and the everyday—without ever losing its human heartbeat. The album’s moods move fluidly, evoking both wandering contemplation and cinematic spectacle, making it an ideal soundtrack for urban exploration, introspection, and nocturnal reverie.

Visual artist Paige Emery complements the music with cover art that mirrors the album’s thematic tension, capturing Hong Kong’s hazy, time-warped neon streets in a hopeful impressionist style. Together, the sound and imagery form a complete sensory experience, immersing listeners in the vibrant yet fleeting spirit of one of the world’s most storied cities. Designed in Heaven Made in Hong Kong is Kai Tak’s most cinematic and evocative release yet, a marriage of sound, memory, and place.