Heavenly Beat - "Talent"

Artist: Heavenly Beat

Album: Talent

Label: Captured Tracks

Release Date: July 24^th, 2012

Review By: Sean Kayden

Heavenly Beat, the latest venture from ex-Beach Fossils bassist, John Peña, has an utterly delectable sound. His debut LP, “Talent” is heavy rhythm inducing and it occupies a diversity in sounds ranging from hints of dance, soul, lo-fi, and surf-rock. Heavenly Beat is a far cry from Peña’s previous band. While Beach Fossils are the epitome of chillwave, Heavenly Beat is not. With “Talent”, Peña takes his experiences with Beach Fossils and developed an entirely sensual and quite mesmerizing record by anyone’s account. Despite the diversity in tones, each sequential track does sound familiar to the next. It’s not necessarily a bad thing since every song is marvelous in it’s own slightly distinctive way. The record’s theme is somewhat of an enigma with all one-name titles for the respective songs. What should be noted is how all the tunes presented here have a distinguishable ebullient beat that carries endlessly through. It won’t be too long, until you find yourself submerged into the mindset of Peña as he displays a truly innovative approach to a genre filled to the brim of equals that really don’t match the vibes or mood crafted here.

“Talent” is graced with eleven delicate but robust tracks that give the listener roughly 35 and ½ minutes of sublime contentment. You can’t knock an album like this that will easily put you in a wistful state of mind. The powers of “Talent” seem limitless but are constrained into a particular section of the genre. The album never strays away from the sound it initially proposes. However, if you like one song here, chances are you’ll like them all. It just boils down to how much you like each individual song. The collection of tunes from beginning to end makes up for one of the most consistent albums of the year. One of my favorite songs off “Talent” is “Faithless”, with its 70s disco inspired verses and outright beguiling beat. “Influence” is striking and beautiful and while the shortest in duration, it’s definitely the most memorable. The tunes flow as if they are effortlessly performed—simple one minute, intricate the next. Heavenly Beat may seem to play with overwhelming amount of ease, but don’t believe for a second that every bit of heart, mind, and soul weren’t connected in delivering upon this enlivening assortment of songs.

I truly can’t fault the band for anything. I love the fact that Peña took a completely different direction with H.B. than simply trying to emulate the sound of Beach Fossils. In the end, “Talent” is entirely intoxicating with glorious songs that are as much of a joy to listen to at face value, as they are getting completely lost in the beat with. No matter if you’re a dreamer or realist, Heavenly Beat has something for you with no preparation needed to dive right in.

Grade: 8.5 out of 10
Key Tracks: “Faithless”, “Tolerance”, “Presence”, “Influence”

Published on August 4th, 2012 by Mountain Views News
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n31/p12.htm