Their Hearts Were Full of Spring!
Words by Tom Leins
‘How I Wasted My Youth’ is the debut album from sprawling London indie collective Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring. Since releasing their glorious debut single ‘A Question Of Trust’ back in 2007 the band have honed their wistful, shape-shifting indie pop into a potent, persuasive brew, and this self-assured thirteen-track collection represents the fruits of their labours.
Opening track ‘Take Your Own Good Advice’ is a delightfully woozy introduction to the band: an underwater love song that sounds like Sparklehorse and The Dears tussling over the contents of Spiritualized’s medicine cabinet!
With impeccable influences and an unfashionably elegant approach to song-craft, THWFOS are a formidable band who have built up a solid fan-base with an inventive array of seasonal cover versions. Happily, their own songs are more than capable of holding their own amongst such esteemed company, and this swooning debut record is a joyous treat.
For a ‘big’ band they eschew bombast in favour of a more languid approach, and their quirky methodology pays dividends throughout. Although previous reviews have drawn comparisons to US space cadets like Mercury Rev and Sparklehorse, THWFOS’ twinkling sound is firmly rooted in the British tradition, with clear nods to both Morrissey/The Smiths and 1970s psych-folk. Admittedly, there are occasional lapses into twee Britpop jangle, but for the most part the band have honed their dreamy pop blueprint to within an inch of its life.
In the post-Morrissey stakes they don’t quite surpass Canada’s extraordinary The Dears, but Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring have crafted a beguiling album full of happy-sounding sad songs and sad-sounding happy songs. They may have wasted their youth, but this wistful album is far from a waste of your time…
http://www.myspace.com/theirheartswerefullofspring
Posted Tue, August 18, 2009