Tshepo Mokoena 

How to Dress Well: What is This Heart? review – a soundtrack to heartbreak and general misery

Heartbroken hipster Tom Krell wants to toughen up – though he is growing and experimenting, writes Tshepo Mokoena
  
  

Glum R&B hipster, TYom Krell
Glum R&B hipster, Tom Krell Photograph: PR

Tom Krell may not be the happiest chap. A glance at the artwork for his third How to Dress Well album, which sees his face set in a glum, faraway expression, reveals as much. It seems fitting, then, that almost every track on this hipster R&B album sounds slick with tears, as Krell sighs, coos and reminisces with keen abandon. It feels ready to join Lykke Li and Lana Del Rey's recent releases as a soundtrack to heartbreak and general misery. Luckily, Krell's falsetto-heavy tunes fit the bill. Though his voice can sound a little insipid, songs such as A Power, Face Again and What You Wanted possess satisfying bass rumbles and earworm hooks. Hints of Twin Shadow's retro-pop, Active Child's warm synth pads and Animal Collective's euphoric psychedelic pop appear, showing growth and experimental bravery. Chin up, then.

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*