Hearts

Despite the rather grim sounding moniker, Swedish nu-showgaze duo I Break Horses make quite uplifting music. Inspired by My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and the Cocteau Twins, their debut opus is a meticulous affair that sees singer Maria Linden indulge in the kind of heavy breathing that’s usually reserved for pensioners who smoke 60 a day, as her musical partner Fredrik Balck effortlessly crafts the sci-fi soundscapes. Something of a concept record, each track is interconnected with a constant pulse (which is meant to represent a universal heart-beat). Highlights include the brooding ‘I Kill Your Love, Baby’ and its pop-tinged polar opposite ‘Wired’. Pretty much all of the nine tracks impress, though.