Hearts On Speed - Before Our Time

Hearts On Speed

Before Our Time
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton 

Toes have no chance with Before Our Time by Hearts on Speed. They will be tapping whether you like it or not. Before Our Time wields incessant catchy beats like a giant musical lollipop that never seems to shrink. The tambourine is as alive as the gentle fuzz of guitar and throbbing bass line, arguably carrying the song like a killer bouncy castle of sound. For first impressions, this group plays the game well. I’ve only heard one track to this point, to be honest. Needless to say, my interest is piqued. Thanks to their single and title track “Before Our Time” listeners will be excellently introduced to the relaxed but oh so danceable pulse of what some might call indie rock. I call it quasi-pop alternative.

 There are many shades of the band and they incorporate a wide range of production and tastes for sound. The drums never stop shaping the groove no matter what ethereal or contemporary musings surround them. This goes to show that Hearts On Speed has an ear for the weird, but also knows one very important thing. Keep it dance-y. Keep it classy. Keep it clean. Ok, that’s three things but I’m not here to do math. Let’s delve further into this project.

I began with praising the opening track on its straight-ahead palatability, but it doesn’t end there. “Purple Lights” has a nice Nintendo bit synth loop that composes a dreary verse section before opening into clear skies and a very cheery chorus complete with the slightest minor lean on the harmonic descent bridging the repeat. Those are the little things I really appreciate when it comes to songwriting. There’s only so much we can do as musicians with only 12 notes, but when you can bend and deviate like these guys, your options seem near limitless. 

“Wire” takes things down a bit and seems almost like a Phil Collins ballad with the soul of Marvin Gaye and vocals like Elvis Costello. See for yourself if my comparisons aim true. I’m a fan of “Kids Of The City” in part to the fact that it sounds like the one-hit wonder gem of the ‘90s “How Bizarre” by OMC. That’s a loose comparison because obviously Hearts On Speed isn’t about horns or mild dance material. That harmonica is a great touch as well. 

The rest of the album has some moments, but the best lies in the first half. 

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