One Track Mind

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Finland’s Burning Hearts have their roots in two very enjoyable, under the radar indie-pop acts: Jessika Rapo is the vocalist for the Stereolab-ish Le Futur Pompiste, while multi-instrumentalist Henry Ojala spends his time as the drummer for the more guitar rooted Cats on Fire. In 2004, the bands toured Sweden together, sowing the seeds for a collaboration that will appeal to fans of acts like Magnetic Fields, Sambassadeur, and The Concretes.

“I Lost My Colour Vision” shows an appreciation for low-budget synthesizers–the first sound must be the same note played on the same keyboard that rings out so famously on Soft Cell’s cover of “Tainted Love”–and quiet drum machines, both of which serve as a base layer for Rapo’s sweetly accented singing. Structurally, the song is tight and well-written; the final section, with its refrain of “You painted a rainbow on the wall,” has definite earworm potential. “Colour Vision” is blessed with good pacing as it gallops along, never staying too long in one spot, and the depth of instrumental layering is rich for a duo. Best of all, while the song has a certain cuteness factor, it is never cloying–there is a certain muscle here, even if it is a distinctly feminine sinew.

For my money, this is indie-pop done right: never stagnant, melodies front and center, and not so sweet that you can’t dig right in.