I’ve always been a big believer in the idea that music doesn’t necessarily need to seem complicated to be good. So when I first discovered Hearts and their new record EP2, I wasn’t concerned by the title. Instead, I decided to judge the EP based on the music itself, and I’m glad I did, as it makes for an absolutely fantastic listen, particularly aimed at indie rock fans.
By Jane Howkins
Hearts actually consists of members of Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Bongo Club and Bottlecap, making for a veritable supergroup! Starting out with lead single In Over Our Heads, it’s a record full of energy and tight melodies, sharing their collective talents in style.
It’s clear from the start why they decided to release this track as the first single (and indeed the first song on the EP), as it’s a perfect showcase of their sound. The main chord sequence has a nice melancholy tinge, yet it’s also incredibly catchy. However, whilst the track certainly has a pop sensibility, the production style and guitar licks add a sense of attitude, mixing things up nicely.
What Do You Want Kid? is perhaps more of a straight up indie rock and roller, seeing the band utilise some impressive guitarwork to really make the track their own. Hearts take a slightly heavier edge at times, as the chugging guitars show, hitting against the huge rhythm section perfectly. The vocals have a slightly distorted sound at times, but they work really well with the style the band are trying to cultivate here.
Sideways is another banger of a tune – whilst the riffs are still present here, it sees a more prominent synthline develop, harking back to Hearts’ influences. The synths really come into their own on the chorus, taking over from the guitars and turning the track into something rather danceable at times. It’s great to hear a band trying something different, and it really pays off here!
The final song on EP2 is FOMO – it seems aptly titled considering this is the last of four killer tracks, leaving me longing for more! It’s a little slower in terms of tempo than the previous songs, allowing the vocals to really shine through. However, this doesn’t mean that the instrumentation is lacking either – the guitars and synths have some really nice melodies here, showing great talent across the board.
It’s clear that Hearts are onto something good with EP2. Here’s hoping we get more new music from them soon – in the meantime, why not give the record a whirl below?!
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