Unlike Darren Sylvester’s debut album, Off By Heart wasn’t created in conjunction with his visual art, but it does strike a very similar chord. One notable difference is in the track-listing; where Sylvester’s self-titled album warmed us up with a modest acoustic intro and a cheeky T-Rex-style number before soaking us in new wave synths, Off By Heart immediately smothers the listener with a handful of dramatic, attention-grabbing pop songs before pulling back slightly in its second half.
The two tracks that have been selected as singles, Don’t Do That To Yourself and Dream Or Something Like That, are Sylvester on peak form. Both promo clips reflect the style of his photography and feature characters lip-syncing his lyrics. These are the kind of dead-eyed, beautiful types that populate his songs, with lyrics often questioning their motives, such as the helpless interrogation of an old friend in Toni, How Did You Get So Cynical? and the attempts to understand cruel, detached shop assistants in Shopgirls.
This analytical breaking down of human psychology may be bottled as kitsch pop, but beneath the slick, crystalline exterior, there’s a warmth and substance. Backing vocals from Magic Silver White’s Jojo Petrina and Biddy Connor are a welcome new element, though this album really is a one-man vision. Sylvester maintains meticulous control of his subjects (like a true visual artist), playing every instrument on the album to create a radiant work that’s dedicated to and fascinated with the sounds of the 1980s.
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
Best Track: Don’t Do That To Yourself
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Lodger/Let’s Dance DAVID BOWIE, Avalon ROXY MUSIC Junk Culture ORCHESTRAL MANEUVERS IN THE DARK
In A Word: Artpop
