Flashback Friday: Blind Date - Your Heart Keeps Burning



"My heart keeps beating, I'm sure I can't be so wrong"

Instead of just mentally going back to the eighties, today I've actually got a proper track from the decade. Although, I bet hardly anybody from the States has heard it before. The band is Blind Date, hailing from Germany and playing (what else) synth assisted pop. The song is the excellent single Your Heart Keeps Burning. I just love the chorus to this. The trade-off between the male and female vocals, though far from original, works really well here. The track's taken from the group's 1986 release Dreamworld, which is mostly kind of on the dull side, with Your Heart standing way above the rest of the material. It's the kind of song that doesn't succeed because of its inventiveness or brashness, but instead because of its terrific pop melody. And, of course, you've got to love that sax!

Forgive the fuzzy quality of the video above, but it's worth watching anyway, if only for the dance moves!

Blind Date - Your Heart Keeps Burning (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album if you can find it!)

Hercules In NY - Nightlight

"Take me to your nightlight"

Australia seems to be the new hub for great 80's revivalist bands in 2008 (along with New Zealand of course, which boasts the incredible Ladyhawke). Hercules In NY are a brand new group specializing in synth assisted rock music. Nightlight is a strange little song. It starts with a great beat, then kind of transitions to a slower portion before speeding up a bit again. I love the guitar especially in this track. I can only imagine what "nightlight" is supposed to connote in the context of the lyrics, but it sure sounds scandalous. While this song might not hit you over the head the very first time you listen to it, it is definitely something that improves each time you listen to it. Oh yes, and apparently they've harnessed the power of flight as well.

Hercules In NY - Nightlight (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the single here.)

Heloise & The Savoir Faire - Members Only

"Jackets, nice asses, backstage passes"

Heloise & The Savoir Faire have been described as Scissor Sisters mixed with Goldfrapp, and I can't really think of a better recommendation than that. I knew I had to check them out. You can get the excellent Downtown (featuring Debbie Harry) on Arjan Writes, so I've decided to post a different track here. Members Only is an incredibly fun representation of the band's disco side. Their record, Trash, Rats & Microphones follows suit as one of the year's purest party albums so far. Also, you gotta appreciate that promo pic above. I've said it before... I adore weird, larger than life pop stars, and Heloise definitely qualifies.

Heloise & The Savoir Faire - Members Only (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)

Oh yeah, so did you know that the new Delays album is stupendously amazing???

Early Standouts (in no particular order)

The Earth Gave Me You (the sequel to Valentine?)
Silence (their best ballad in some time... don't you think this could break them on radio?)
Keep It Simple (beautiful verses)
Friends Are False (now why isn't this already a number one?)
Girls On Fire (proudly carrying on in the epic opening track tradition)

Alice In Videoland - Candy

"I need a hot passion"

Just in case we didn't have enough great Scandinavian music right now, Alice In Videoland has gone ahead and released their new album She's A Machine. Emily was one of the first songs I ever posted on Alienhits and was a big favorite, so I'm glad I have the opportunity to post another by this great, unique band years later. A lot of bands have taken an electro approach to their music, but nobody sounds quite like AiV. They've got an immediately recognizable sound. Off the new album, Candy was the first track that hit with me immediately, probably because it's got the most poppy melody of them all. Other than that, the album is business as usual. If you liked the other two you're sure to enjoy this as well. (Though in my opinion it's not quite as consistent as the other two... but I'm not like a number one die hard either)

Alice In Videoland - Candy (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)

We Are Scientists - Chick Lit

"I asked you nicely once, I won't do that again"

It's a shame that We Are Scientists' new record hasn't gotten much attention because it's heaps better than their indie-cookiecutter debut. They experimented with a lot of different sounds on this one and although Chick Lit might not necessarily be the best example of this new found eclecticism, it does prove that they can still write a great hit. Honestly, I kind of forgot about them until I heard this on the radio and remembered how great it was. It's got a great dance rock beat and sinfully catchy verses and I think it'll probably end up being my favorite track from these guys, despite the odd title. It's certainly one of the most immediate songs of this genre out right now.

We Are Scientists - Chick Lit (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)