The Feast of the Broken Heart
26 May 2014
Moshi Moshi
3.5 stars out of 5
Hercules and Love Affair’s third LP, The Feast of the Broken Heart, moves further into stripped-down Nu-Disco
territory than their previous albums. Leader Andy Butler limits his sound
palate to just a handful keyboard and drum machine sounds, creating an
atmosphere that is both unified and somewhat claustrophobic. Featuring guest
vocalists from Krystle Warren, Gustaphe, Rouge Mary, and John Grant, the record
leaves you few options other than dancing and possibly more dancing. If you’re
lucky you can get away with a few head bobs on the bus, but if you don’t
practice extreme restraint people are definitely going to be pointing and
staring at you.
What Feast gains
in danceability it loses in its ability to hold your interest long term. Near
the end of the record the songs are increasingly formulaic, although thrown
into those formulas are some pretty phat bass lines. Still, there are worse
things than dancing despite yourself. The worst part of this record is that two
of its songs feature John Grant on guest vocals. Personally, I’m still trying
to erase 2013’s Pale Green Ghosts
from my memory (there aren’t adjectives negative enough to even begin to
describe John Grant’s solo stuff), and while Feast’s “Liberty” and “I Try to Talk to You” are far superior to
anything on Ghosts, it’s still a
black eye on the former.
The Feast of the
Broken Heart will be heard at many a hipster dancehall this year, but come
this time last year don’t expect it to return to your turntable too often.
While it’s clear that Butler and his crew are aiming for providing immediate
satisfaction rather than erecting a lasting monument, sometimes you need more
than just a phat bass line.
reviewed by Richard Krueger
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