Description:	7" on Lucky Number
	Format:	7" (vinyl)
	Genre(s):	Indie Dance
	Label:	Lucky Number
	Price:	£2.99
	Availability:	Sold out / currently unavailable. Sorry!

4
...according to our Phil on 29 May 2008.

On to Gotye with their debut 7" on Lucky Number. This is a Belgium chap called Jean Paul and he's a one band of sorts. Not one of those old dudes with things all over his arms, drums everywhere, a harmonica in his mouth and a monkey on his back. I suspect this guy has a computer and loads of records. In fact I know the latter to be true cos I read it on our site (so it must be true...). He inherited a big record collection and thus 'Hearts A Mess' was born as the track is skillfully crafted together from samples (mainly from a Harry Belafonte song). I quite like this.... the music's a bit quirky though I'm not mad keen on his heartfelt vocals. That's just my taste though... I can imagine loads of folks going for it. Who does it sound like? No cocking idea as I can't think of one single artist this sounds like. I'm tired now....

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What their label says...

Gotye (pronounced Gaultier - like Jean Paul) is a one-man indie success story, a Beck-style sample magpie and a huge-hearted songwriter. Acting as his own manager, plugger and record label while working in a library by day, Belgium born Gotye has won a plethora of prestigious awards in his adopted home of Australia.  He has won both the Australian equivalent of the Mercury Music Award (the AMP) and a BRIT Award (the ARIA for Best Male Artist), in 2007.  This track “Hearts A Mess” was also voted “Track of the Year” by the listeners of Triple J Radio (Australia’s equivalent to Radio One).

Gotye pieced together ‘Heart’s A Mess’ from a huge collection of records bequeathed him by a neighbour. The main loop being originally lifted from Harry “King of Calypso” Belafonte’s 1956 recording of “Banana Boat Song” (known by its signature lyric “Day-O”) before then being replayed, adapted and recreated for the track.

From the initial pluck of the harp string, the gentle swell of violins, a lush beachcombing slide guitar, backed by that most sumptuous Day-O swinging rhythm 'Hearts A Mess' opens a kaleidoscope of feelings, with Gotye’s blue-eyed soul voice having shades of Peter Gabriel.  Lull’s beautiful remix adds more glitch, crackle, & ice-cool pop.