Since 2015, KAMIKAZE PALM TREE have been a relative mystery. Now, in times no less mysterious, Drag City welcomes them to our tropical island destination, celebrating the energy of their second LP, Mint Chip, where KPT play their offbeat strain of 21st century rock. Making Mint Chip, DYLAN HADLEY and COLE BERLINER reach deeper into their bag of tricks than ever before, dialoguing with an absurd shared intent they haven’t yet paused to question. The off-center pieces gathered together for their previous Good Boy have given way to pulsing aquatic compositions onMint Chip. Cole’s guitar tones, wire thin, bell-like, bluesily downtuned, slinky and slid- ing elegantly, arc purposeful around their peripherals. Dylan’s kit work, effortless yet precise, grounded with heavy bottom, drives and interacts organically with all the emerging structure, nailing down finely detailed frames and canvases to backdrop her singing and the unremitting landing of melodies and songs. With the addition of JOSH PUKLAVETZ things that didn’t make sense before—like bass—are now on the beach, fully lotioned, essence to essence. Violin and clarinet (LAENA MYERS IONITA and BRAD CAULKINS, respectively) round out the tonal spectrum. All strung together in the foothills of Altadena’s Wiggle World Studios with SPENCER HARTLING back in the engineer’s seat and TIM PRESLEY producing the proceedings.