AWmusic

Hailing from England, The Broken Hearts invoke another time, another place. Think cabaret. Think vaudeville. Think Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Now think DJ. That’s right! Nisha Thirkell and Amber Jane Buchart are DJs.

You can hear them weekly on their themed radio show on QRadio – The Broken Hearts Mystery Tour, every Sunday night from 9-10pm. If 1920s to 1960s tunes are not your style, the show is worth a listen if only for their clever and well-researched tidbits between tunes.

Part of what one might call the nu-burlesque scene in London, the ladies work at vintage clothing shop Beyond Retro, the source of their many identical retro costumes. Often choreographing dances to accompany their retro-inspired sets, the 24-year-olds have played the best rooms in London (Sketch, Tate Britain, The V & A), Paris, New York and Milan, with their sights set on many more.

Late last year (yes, I realize this was awhile ago), The Broken Hearts released their single “Black Cat”/”Blanco” on Mute Records, a collaboration with electro maestro Whitey (who, as an aside, states on his Myspace page that he will block you if you type “LOL” in a message to him, which I very much agree with). Two very danceable tracks, one with a catchy piano riff, the other with a toe-tapping bassline, this single will whet your appetite for the future work of these two talented and stylish young women.

“Black Cat” is a hybrid of Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road, Jack” (particularly at the chorus when their flirty vocals come in) and the best parts of The Cure’s “Love Cats”. The double bass echoes your heartbeat; the infectious rhythms induce head bopping and hip shaking. But the eerie piano line is the star, along with the delivery of “I can’t live like that”, and the vocal call and answer towards the end. Check out the video here.

“Blanco” is more of a singalong – think “Iko Iko” – and features Amber and Nisha’s vocals more predominantly. Complete with handclaps, xylophone and sweet harmonies, “Blanco” is the stronger effort of the two, although not nearly as catchy.

Their much-anticipated follow-up “Count Those Freaks!” is due to be released in the very near future. You can count on Nisha and Amber’s trendsetting and adorable style to be duplicated, and you can put your money on their next release’s success.

MP3:
The Broken Hearts – Black Cat

Buy at:
HMV / Mute Records

More info:
Myspace