Album Review: Strangeness In Proportion – Secondhand Heartbeat

Strangeness in Proportion is the guise of Sean Cahalin, a Philadelphian who has been releasing music since he was 14. The past couple of days have seen the announcement of the second pressing of LP ‘Secondhand Heartbeat’, which takes its cues from alt-indie, acousti-emo acts such as The Front Bottoms, Mom Jeans and Adjust The Sails. Discussing the title, Cahalin says: “(It) represents the people we cling onto and the materials we are bound to and how it seems they are the only reason we are alive, and how after we die, the memory of us is carried by these people, giving us a ‘secondhand heartbeat’. The closest thing to resurrection we have.”

Opening with the playful (It is the theme song from The Office, isn’t it?) jangle of ‘I’m Trying To Smoke These Hornets’, Cahalin builds an intimate world of ‘rebellion, invincibility, and aimlessness’ from teens years gone by. The next track, and previous single, ‘Puzzles’ sounds like it should play over the closing credits of an indie film. Featuring bare-bone instruments and sincere male/female harmonies, it’s a bittersweet tale of fading love: “I wish we were there for each other whenever we needed,” they lament. ‘Vivian’ is an exposed account of the fallout of a breakup, and it makes for..uncomfortable..listening in its depiction. ‘Slightly Burnt Coil’ (just now available on limited run 7”, backed with ‘Puzzles’) is at least more fun, and expansive. After a picked intro, It continues on military drums before it swells into driving alt-pop that chugs and strums along. There’s humour in the lyrics, too: “Too bad I crashed my car, no need to wash it anymore.” The addition of gang vocals lends a nice warmth too. The welcome pace follows into ‘Caterall’ – which balances a jaunty rhythm against the more serious topic of mental illness. Closer, ‘Ghost Story’ cycles open chords and muted keys to ‘emphasise the fear of being forgotten and who your soul really is and where it will go or how it will cope with the concept of no longer living.’ says Cahalin.

Like sometimes-fanciful, sometimes-sombre acoustic-based audio journal entries? ‘Secondhand Heartbeats’ is available; name your own price, via Bandcamp. Strangeness In Proportion has Facebook and Instagram pages to follow.