Top tracks — play these first
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Never Enough — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its pulsing synths and themes of longing, encapsulating the quintessential Visage sound.
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Shameless Fashion — A standout track that combines sharp lyrics with an infectious beat, reflecting on superficiality in modern culture while embracing the band's fashion-forward legacy.
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I Am Watching — This track showcases a darker edge of the album, blending haunting vocals with atmospheric production that highlights the band's evolution over decades.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively revisits new wave roots but lacks standout tracks to elevate its overall impact.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong synth melody in 'Never Enough' that sets a consistent electronic tone for the first half.
- Tracks like 'Shameless Fashion' and 'She's Electric (Coming Around)' feature layered vocal harmonies that create a rich texture.
- The pacing slows significantly in the latter half, particularly with 'Diaries of a Madman' and 'Breathe Life', which focus on introspective lyrics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- nostalgic reflections on modernity
- synth-driven melodies for introspection
- thoughtful tracks for evening wind-down
- catchy choruses that invite participation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking immediate gratification
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2013, Hearts and Knives marked Visage's first studio album since 1984's Beat Boy, coming after a significant hiatus. The album represents an effort to reconnect with the band's synth-pop roots while navigating the contemporary music landscape.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gary Numan· Depeche Mode· Soft Cell
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Never Enough 4:02
- 2 Shameless Fashion 4:24
- 3 She's Electric (Coming Around) 3:45
- 4 Hidden Sign 5:31
- 5 On We Go 4:23
- 6 Dreamer I Know 3:41
- 7 Lost in Static 5:07
- 8 I Am Watching 4:09
- 9 Diaries of a Madman 2:56
- 10 Breathe Life 3:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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