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Track: Harmony To My Heartbeat

Sally Seltmann
Track: Harmony To My Heartbeat

1 Track, Single (2009, Independent)
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Related: New Buffalo, Sally Seltmann.


Sparse percussion, muted keys, breathy vocals – these are the unassuming foundations upon which Sally Seltmann’s wall of sound is built. On ‘Harmony To My Heartbeat’, her first single in three years, she drops the New Buffalo moniker, fully revealing the pop classicist that reared its head, albeit in a more modern guise, on her last album Somewhere, Anywhere. Of course, she’s always had it in her. Her 2007 co-write with Feist, 1234, showcased Seltmann’s natural ability to touch the masses without dumbing things down. And ‘Harmony To My Heartbeat’, thanks to co-production by Francois Tetaz, pushes the sonic palette out even further. There are handclaps, rhythmic shifts, multi-layered harmonies and even a key change, sure, but Seltmann never lets complexity get in the way of a good hook. “You’re the harmony to my heartbeat, baby,” she sings over and over in her wistful voice, while harmonies circle around her like angels in a manger. For God’s sake, Carol, give her the keys to the Brill Building already.

by Darren Levin

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Your Comments

Ash-showoff  said about 2 years ago:

This is sweet. I dig!!


Idratherdance  said about 2 years ago:

Very nice track. Hopefully she can play some shows soon to preview the new stuff.


samiek  said about 2 years ago:

Geez, 1234 is a rad song, but this one seems to have no inspiration at all. pants.


blueoystercult  said about 2 years ago:

I dunno, it's NICE and yeah it's a perfect pop song...so why ain't I excited by it?


Karate  said about 2 years ago:

b/c you're a douche bag?


sharptooth  said about 2 years ago:

pretty pretty


MrsGideon  said about 2 years ago:

It's grown on me. I like it lots now.


percolator  said about 2 years ago:

temporarybenbutler  said about 2 years ago:

It's a Frankie shoot come to life!


red menace  said about 2 years ago:

It's beyond excruciating, that film clip

a friend almost cancelled Xmas after watching it, so filled was he with rage over the muted-colour-twee-pool-party-who's-who-ness of it all. It made him hate Melbourne for a whole day.


sharptooth  said about 2 years ago:

lol @ redmenace

aw comeon.. the clip is pretty cute.. i mean, i probably would fall into a pit of despair would i were there due to a twee factor no 30+ sunscreen could block, but as an accompaniment to a perfect piece of sugary pop-goodness? sure.


anok  said about 2 years ago:

cute song. don't hate the clip, unlike half my friends.


switchbladesisters  said about 2 years ago:

they're acting, in reality nobody would talk because everyone would feel too awkward.


red menace  said about 2 years ago:

i don't have the rage for this clip that some do, but it does annoy me royally. Not crazy about the song either.

Back in the day I was very much in love with New Buffalo ('the day' being The Last Beautiful one), but have slowly gone cold on her.

I think cuteness doesn't do it for me anymore which is surely a sign of the impending apocalypse.

I even find it hard to listen to Swedish indie pop these days.


anok  said about 2 years ago:

there's a little too much jens early on. spread the jens out more.


shakethecloudsout  said about 2 years ago:

saw this vid on the w/e, excruciating is bang-on. it's pretty hilarious.


Goal attack  said about 2 years ago:

yowzas I'm lost for words at that video.


tinyman  said about 1 year ago:

hey! she's playing Raval in Sydney. next Tues 23rd. i'll be there, probably.


Kit  said about 1 year ago:

With her husband! I'd be going for sure if I wasn't going to Orbital.


Arthurly  said about 1 year ago:

temporarybenbutler said

It's a Frankie shoot come to life!

that made me laugh. good call.

Her first ep was great - kinda lost me after that.

BTW - there seems to be a lot of Frankie mag haterz on M+N. My wife got given a subscription and I reckon it's one of the best designed mags in Australia, easy. Why the hate?


tinyman  said about 1 year ago:

aw crud! the Sydney Raval show's been cancelled! (says moshtix site) anyone got word what's the story? guessing off the top of my head: is it moved to a bigger venue due to overwhelming demand?


poofpoof  said about 1 year ago:

Grown on me too, more!


radiotron  said about 1 year ago:

Her first ep was great - kinda lost me after that.

Pretty sure Darren worked on that one it's
pretty avalanchesque


anok  said about 1 year ago:

still think this song is pretty damn sweet.


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