The first ever solo album from Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna, Dean & Britta). Produced by Jason Quever (Papercuts). Includes the single ‘Love Is Colder Than Death’, as premiered on Pitchfork. ‘Emancipated Hearts’ is a downbeat collection that suggests Galaxie 500 playing bucolic folk-rock. As if to underline this comparison, there’s a cover of The Incredible String Band’s ‘Air’.
“I know they can be a bit silly, but they can be hilarious too,” says Dean. “Our version was recorded in Jason’s living room, just him and me.” Before this almost light-hearted conclusion, however, the album explores much darker territory, something that is evident from just the titles of the songs. It’s not so much political as politicised, as Dean explains: “Each of these songs started with a line or phrase I borrowed from a poem or film or newspaper headline. The idea is you steal a line and then build your own song around it…”
Between 1987 and 1991 Dean Wareham was singer / guitarist/ songwriter with Galaxie 500, who recorded three albums for Rough Trade (now available on Domino). His next band, New York-based quartet Luna, recorded seven studio albums for Elektra and Beggars Banquet between 1992 and 2004. He has released three albums with his wife Britta Phillips as Dean & Britta. Their most recent release was a soundtrack to accompany their multi-media show ‘13 Most Beautiful: Songs For Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests.