"Hái!" is the fourth and final studio album by British duo the Creatures, consisting of Siouxsie Sioux and Budgie, released in 2003. The album was recorded in two parts: the drums were laid down by Budgie and Kodo drummer Leonard Eto in Tokyo in August 2002, while the rest of the recording took place in Europe. The band's experience in Japan inspired them, with influences drawn from the delicate snowfall imagery in Akira Kurosawa's film Ikiru, the vibrancy of Tokyo's Roppongi district, and the serene atmosphere of ancient Shinto shrines and Lake Ashi.
Upon its release, Hái! received critical acclaim for its "Anglo-Japanese beauty."
In April 2002, while touring the U.S. with the Banshees, Budgie met Japanese producer Hoppy Kamiyama in Chicago. Budgie and Siouxsie had long wished to collaborate with Eto but had never reached out. After corresponding with Eto, they booked a studio in Tokyo and invited him to join them for a recording session on August 19, 2002. They approached this session in a spontaneous manner, similar to their previous work on Feast. During the Tokyo session, Siouxsie collected notes and ideas for songs. Afterward, they explored Roppongi, the Shinto shrines, and Lake Ashi, capturing footage that later appeared in a documentary included in a limited edition of Hái!.
The recordings from the Tokyo session formed the backbone of the album. In France, the duo edited 11 tracks from the original 90-minute tape, developing the songs over several months. Budgie learned sound engineering and recorded the album, while Siouxsie structured it like a vinyl release, with an extroverted A-side and a calmer B-side. In August 2003, they announced the album's release for October, along with the single "Godzilla!"
The single "Godzilla!" was released a week before the album, featuring a non-album B-side, "Attack of the Supervixens," inspired by Russ Meyer's film. Hái! was released as both a double-LP and CD. Two extended CD versions were initially available, one including a bonus DVD with footage shot in Japan and the video for "2nd Floor," and another featuring an instrumental version of the album. A third edition, Hái! (Nama), containing the unedited drum sessions from Tokyo, was released in July 2004 via the band's website, featuring 11 instrumentals with Hoppy Kamiyama on tape.
The standard CD of Hái! was re-released in 2004 with two bonus tracks: "The Temple of Dawn" and "Attack of the Supervixens." The album is also available on Spotify.
