CD Review: Hearts of Palm UK "For Life"

Let’s get one thing straight: at thirty-two years old I’ve become a cranky old man. Hearts of Palm UK’s press material tell us that front woman, Erika Elektra, wrote all the songs on guitar then re-recorded them with all electronic beeps and hums. I mean, really, is this a novel approach? Though it brought a smirk to my face, it seems to me that that's all kids are doing these days. Wasn’t Kraftwerk like thirty years ago?

I was ready to write a scathing review about how this record was endemic of the trend in the world to settle for less in their music. How the electronicazation of all music is part of our societal fear of real feelings. How there was no real sonic watermark on this music and how in a blind taste test there’s no way I could pick then out from a million other electroclash wannabe Daft Punks. I had some really big thoughts about this album.

Then my computer broke and I couldn’t write my review. I decided I might as well listen to it a few more times. What could it hurt? The next morning I woke up singing what I could remember from there songs; admittedly they where pretty easy to mix up. I think I was humming the verse of one then singing the chorus of another. One thing was for certain these songs where infectious. I’d become infected by these songs.

Don’t get me wrong Hearts of Palm UK hasn’t changed my life. They haven’t made me any less irritated with the trend toward vapid hipster dance music. Still, listening to the album now, as I write this, they have reminded me of the need for simplicity in music. Not everything has to be novel or complicated.

There will always be a place in our world for someone who can just write simple pop songs about love and friendship and the ever blurring lines between the two. I think that for the post-electroclash world this little band from LA just might fill that void.