Album Review: The Paper Kites - 'If You Got There, I Hope You Find It'
Celebrating life’s simple joys, The Paper Kites’ new album ‘If You Go There, I Hope You Find It’ is the perfect remedy for the world we find ourselves in.
From their inception back in 2009, The Paper Kites have been a band who have always had a wonderful knack for capturing the mood of the moment. With their first release ‘Bloom’, it was all about the magic in simplicity - arpeggio guitar lines and sparse arrangements that let the lyrics and melodies take the limelight. As their sound evolved, they began to explore new styles and genres, breaking down the boundaries of what a ‘folk-rock’ band should sound like. Now in 2026 with their seventh album, having become masters of their craft, they demonstrate their ability to give power to the delicate with songs that are as emotionally searing as they are fragile.
‘If You Go There, I Hope You Find It’ leans into the acoustic, subdued and introspective roots that gave the band their start. Most of the tracks are guitar led with Sam Bentley showing off his fingerstyle technique that has become a key characteristic across all of their work. The story begins with ‘Morning Gum’, which with its blend of strings, banjo and buttery smooth vocals welcomes you into a space that feels effortlessly familiar, regardless of whether you are a returning listener or completely new to the band. Compared to their previous album which saw them joined by additional musicians to broaden and expand their sound, here the band play as they are. The connection between the five members has of course grown incredibly strong over their years of performing and creating together and their synergy is potent throughout. On tracks where they come together slowly, you appreciate the depth and shades each member brings to their work whereas on other songs where they’re playing in tandem from the off, you can bear witness to their chemistry and ability to collaborate and bounce off one another.
A lot of the album was recorded at a farm in the Yarra Valley belonging to a longtime friend of the band. The location’s mountain views and wide-open spaces where you can see for miles are clear inspirations throughout the record. For Christina who first wrote it on a foggy window one morning, the title ‘If You Go There, I Hope You Find It’ became the mission statement that flows through everything on the album. A reflection on distance, it’s all about the quiet hope that the people you love will find what they’re looking for, even if you can’t be there with them when they do.
Many of the songs speak to fleeting moments we share with one another - with titles like ‘When The Lavender Blooms’ , ‘Change of Wind’ and ‘A Word I Needed More’ they highlight and make reference to the memories that bond us together. The Paper Kites point to the ways that things that in the moment seemed insignificant often become the big things, and encourage us to give power and meaning to every encounter, no matter how small or banal it may be. As our world changes and demands us to change along with it, they implore us to hold on. Hold on to the things that matter to you, hold on to your roots and the people who made you who you are, hold on even when everything tells you to let go.
From its start to finish, the album brings with it a gentle warmth. Everything is serene and calm; rather than bursts of energy or sudden urges to up the ante with shifts in pace and volume, The Paper Kites instead give a masterclass in stamina and the ability to sustain the mood throughout. From beginning to end, everything from the lyrics and accompaniment to the tone and production are understated. Subtlety is everything and small changes and differentiation peppered with intention make the experience of listening to the piece in full so special. You are transported to a calm place that remains constant the whole time but each track gives you something to hone in on. If the album was a home, each song becomes its rooms. Pieces of a picture that come together to create a whole; scenes that make up the movie.
Having become known for their ability to emulate and convey emotions in a way that is nuanced, considered and can be understood by everyone, this album is potentially the band at their best. Through all ten songs, they depict feelings of love and longing and the ways they remain with you regardless of how much time has passed. Sam Bentley’s vocals capture everything. Whether it's when he sings ‘I could change but everything that I am needs you close like no other’ (Stormwall) or on the line ‘tell me why I’m tied to you so endlessly’ (Every Town), every single lyric is delivered as an unwavering declaration of love. It isn’t just in the words - everything the band touches drips with yearning and intention. From David Powys’ banjo lines and deft songwriting, Josh Bentley’s hand in crafting the heartbeat that builds the rhythmic foundations for all the songs, Christina Lacy’s sterling vocals that add layers to melody lines and Sam Rasmussen’s basslines that create the roots for the instrumentation, each member leaves a piece of themselves on the record.
More than anything, ‘If You Go There, I Hope You Find It’ is like the company of an old friend. Indie folk often has a way of making you feel nostalgic and The Paper Kites are no exception to this. As much as the record is about reminiscence and the joy of looking back, listening to it gives you a sense of hope for what is to come. In its endeavours of soul searching and discovery, it signals the importance of community and connection with one another. With vulnerability, honesty and candour it speaks to the need of coming together and finding belonging with the company we keep. As they prepare to head on the road and bring folks to listen and sing the songs together, the world can’t help but feel a little lighter.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thomson
