The Heartbreaks

Morecambe romanticists The Heartbreaks are a band too often lazily compared with The Smiths and Orange Juice. Of course, the jangly guitars and whimsical vocals do nothing to deter from this typecast, even though there is a hell of a lot more to this band.

Their latest offering, Hand on Heart, shows why these four lads have collected such a dedicated fan-base around Europe. The song itself is a revamped version of the original album track and features a fully-fledged string section, which results in a bigger, yet more elegant sound. But what sets this band apart from the rest is their ability to craft choruses as catchy as Tamala Motown at its best. This shines through in Hand on Heart as frontman Matthew yelps, “Hand on heart, foot in mouth, I mean so well, please don’t doubt” in a dazzling chorus of chiming guitars and resonant violins.

Hand on Heart works on so many levels, it is impossible to find fault. The Heartbreaks have constructed a song which evokes so many eras of charming pop, yet maintains all uniqueness, and that must be applauded.