Review Summary: As a vibrant and spirited journey, Feats of Engineering delves into neo-psychedelia like a diver ready to make a big splash.
Fantasy of a Broken Heart’s first formed in 2017 and their first single was released in February of 2020. Why it took 7 years to release their debut, Feats of Engineering, is a mystery, but the Covid-19 pandemic could be an explanation.Their own Bandcamp statement implies the lockdown was actually what made them initially take the project seriously: “When the world sputtered to a halt in 2020, the whirlwind stopped. The pair deposited themselves in Al’s native Los Angeles, taking the opportunity to hunker down with their twinned sound and commit to fantasy as a fully-fledged band”. That’s the reality of Fantasy of a Broken Heart: Al Nardo and Bailey Wollowitz working as a team in close quarters to bring you their long-time-coming vision. As of September 2024, that vision has been realized.
Slick guitar lines, a shout or two, and even a couple of post-punk jabs (especially on “Tapdance 2”) make Feats of Engineering quite the Brooklyn affair. However, the heart of the LP is a lot less jittery or punky as you’d expect from a group who invited members of Godcaster and Water from Your Eyes as session musicians during the recording. Shimmering and flowy are more Nardo and Wollowitz’s aims.
Many different alternative pop subgenres find their way onto the album. Synths, orchestral strings, flutes, and even mellotron give it a distinctly neo-psychedelic pop texture. Wollowitz’s voice is often reminiscent of David Baker of Mercury Rev’s distinct low notes, while Nardo’s high notes echo dream pop tradition. The tracks on the first half behave as self contained indie pop singles, but the second half takes on a progressive pop structure of multi-sectioned songs that flow into one another. Both sides show that a big focus of Fantasy is to be catchy and accessible while still being exploratory and expansive.
Many of the themes are autobiographical, but without revealing too many details. The title track marvels at the construction of buildings and transportation as an allusion to their appreciation for the process of album creation (the reason for the name Feats of Engineering). Three songs in a row mention the line “nobody knows what you’re talking about” to address the absurdity of expressing personal experience with an expectation that the listeners can relate. This is, of course, a meta-analysis of how lyrics often metaphorize real life situations that the audience lacks the context for. “Ur Heart Stops”, which has been in the works since 2019, is about the dreams you carry until your death and has, since then, functioned much as a signature anthem at their live shows. For Fantasy, the creation of this record was a long journey and they want you to know how grateful they are to finally be making it all happen.
But it’s not always so serious. There’s a certain fantastical element to plenty of the lyrics. “Mega”, is a song about a bioluminescent megalodon, idiosyncratic phrases like “bippy bopps” and “steamy dreamies” are uttered during “Loss”, and the last line on the entire album, a joyous chant of “We’ll see you on LP 2!”, ends everything on a hopeful, but ultimately goofy note. Sure it was a long trek to get here, but it wasn’t without fun and laughter.
Much of Brooklyn’s local scene goes for edgy, serious, apathetic, or dark, yet Feats of Engineering is refreshingly appreciative, positive, modest, and colorful. For a runtime of only 36 minutes, it’s jam packed with lovely ideas of various pop timbres. The warmth and personability contained within is present and honest from start to finish. So, why not set sail on this feat of engineering?
Album highlights: “Loss”, “Mega”, “Ur Heart Stops”, "Catharsis”
