The cover art of Dancing Heals’ debut album displays a radiating purple orb surrounded by glistening stars somewhere in the cosmos – an apt reflection of the starry-eyed pop-rock encased within. Produced by Mandy Kane and mixed by Tony Espie (The Avalanches, The Holidays), with input on one track from Paul ‘Woody’ Annison (The Living End, Children Collide), Into the Night features songs from across the band’s three-year history, and provides a delightful listening session which transcends age and genre.
There’s a wistful nostalgia about introductory track “Let You Down”, but soon enough the mood brightens as the two uplifting singles “Diamonds” and “Live & Learn” play out – singles which have already garnered notable airplay in the United States. As softer vocals deliver lyrics like “She’s at a discotheque in North America/Dancing under street lights named desire”, it’s difficult not to become enthralled with the co-songwriting of Jon-Lee Farrell and Daniel Trakell.
The creative influence gained from the band’s time spent on the west coast of the United States seeps through “Los Angeles”, while a beautifully executed bass line gives “Leave Them All Behind” a darker feel than the rest of the dreamy tunes, as its opening lyrics defend with “I don’t need to be saved”.
Although it’s easy to get a little lost amongst the album’s ten tracks, as the guitar riffs seamlessly flow from song to song making the tunes difficult to differentiate, by the time the last chords have waded through your ears, chances are you’ve already hit the repeat button to listen to it all again.
– Elizabeth Margaronis
