Hilltop Hoods: Drinking From The Sun, Walking Under Stars Restrung

Ever since Cypress Hill stole Peter Frampton’s string section, it’s been treated more as a punchline than a genuine artistic endeavour.

Still, kudos to Adelaide mainstays Hilltop Hoods for not only entertaining the idea, but going through with it. Twice. Here, the Hoods mix cuts from their last two albums, as well as two brand new songs, with arrangements for a 50-piece orchestra. Some work beautifully – ‘Shredding The Balloon’ and ‘Through The Dark’ both benefit from the added emotional depth, while ‘Cosby Sweater’ has playful horns and triumphant swells that are guaranteed to raise a grin.

Perhaps including both records meant spreading the idea a little thin, however, and there are certainly songs where the arrangements add next to nothing. Even so, it says a lot about the Hoods that they are using their position at the top of the Australian hip hop pecking order to taste a little bit of the spice of life.

With all the potential to be gimmicky and fruitless, this second Restrung effort instead breathes new life into some of the Hoods’ best songs. Classical is the new classic.

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