Secret Cities - Strange Hearts

Secret Cities were born out of a love of arguably the two greatest musical forms to ever grace this earth: Psychedelic pop (think the illegitimate offspring of The Chantels and The Raspberries) and a love for classic 70s AM radio cassette tapes. The result is a trip down the gloriously melodic, rose tinted kaleidoscopic soundscape that is ‘Strange Hearts’. It is obvious a lot of love, and hours of listening to 1960’s power pop has helped craft this album.

While ‘Strange Hearts’ never leaves this musical trajectory, what is does do is capture the brightness and innocence of 60s pop music, while at the same time conveying stories tinged with downheartedness as good as any classic country song. It perfectly highlights the juxtaposition between the delightful music and its darker lyrics. It’s the album that retro-kids The Young Veins wanted to make but failed to do so.

Each song captures the period with mastery and grace. It really seems like each band member not only wants to be making this music, but damn loves revelling in the pool of chorus and delay. Will this album blow up the charts? Doubtful, alas time has moved on; but Secret Cities will find their own niche of music lovers, craving for a bit of the golden oldies with a modern twist.