The website of Oxford/London duo Stubborn Heart (moniker of Luca Santucci and Ben Fitzgerald) cites their genre as electronic soul, but truthfully, their self-titled debut album takes influence from everything from RnB to nineties club hits- while also neatly slotting them alongside post-dubstep regulars like James Blake and SBTRKT.
The records inexorable pop sensibility is immediately evident from opener Penetrate; smooth and controlled electronics carry Santucci’s trembling vocals, which draw comparisons to Dan Snaith’s voice work with Caribou. It’s an assured start, but the groups detractors may take some pleasure in the line, “We collaborate to irritate”. Better Than This works bowls, bells and chimes into the mix , while melancholic singing highlights the duos talent at building emotion and juxtaposes well with the light and breezy samples spliced throughout. Two Times A Maybe gets down to business in exploring the dark side of pop, with bass-heavy dubstep and ominous synths entering as the track reaches its climax. This hybridity feels somewhat jaded however, and doesn’t entirely synch with the albums unabashed devotion to pop.
Interpol sees the pair explore Mount Kimbie-like soundscapes, as fuzz bass jaunts the song along, sloshing through puddles of atmospheric space. It’s Not That Easy and Starting Block drift back into pop territory with lush flourishes and Santucci lamenting like a downscale Jeff Buckley. Blow is a chilled and moody instrumental piece-the kind that soundtracks a music video of dashboard footage from a moving car- while Head On is a retro video game boss battle blending with dark empty space.
To Catch A Spark is an aurally pleasing pop song about “Amazing Grace, that’s what everybody called her”. It’s the most emotionally significant track on the album, with extremely subtle additions in instrumentation that are barely noticeable on first listen. Closer Need Someone showcases some night-time music, combining a nefarious crushing bassline with cheery piano chords, becoming something of a melancholic club banger.
The post-dubstep scene is full to the brim at the moment, and while Stubborn Heart differ from their contemporaries through the channelling of pop influences, it’s just not enough to make a lasting impression on those seeking a fresh-faced approach.
