"What Is This Heart?" cover

"What Is This Heart?"

How to Dress Well · 2014

55 min · 12 tracks · rhythm and blues

A tapestry of ethereal R&B and experimental textures, blending vulnerability with rhythmic sophistication.

Top tracks — play these first

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    Repeat Pleasure — This track encapsulates the album's exploration of desire and longing, featuring an infectious groove that contrasts with its introspective lyrics.
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    Precious Love — With a yearning vocal delivery and layered instrumentation, this song highlights Krell's ability to evoke deep emotion through minimalism and texture.
  • →
    Words I Don’t Remember — This track stands out for its haunting melody and reflective lyrics, epitomizing the album’s themes of memory and emotional complexity.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • ethereal soundscapes for deep reflection
  • patient emotional exploration and vulnerability
  • rhythmic sophistication with introspective lyrics
  • moments of quiet contemplation
  • late-night solitude with delicate textures

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer upbeat, energetic tracks
  • want immediate gratification from music

Where this album fits

Career context
When 'What Is This Heart?' was released in 2014, How to Dress Well, the project of Tom Krell, was transitioning from his breakthrough album 'Total Loss' (2012). This album marked a significant evolution in his sound, showcasing a more polished production and deeper emotional exploration, as he sought to refine his artistic vision while still engaging with themes of love and loss.
Stylistic neighbors
James Blake· Frank Ocean· The Weeknd

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • See You Fall

    The bridge shifts to a direct address, contemplating vulnerability amidst uncertainty about a relationship's future.

    This moment breaks from the previous introspection by moving into a more confrontational tone, emphasizing the urgency of the connection being explored.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 2 Years On (Shame Dream) 3:49
  • 2 What You Wanted 5:27
  • 3 Face Again 4:28
  • 4 See You Fall 3:16
  • 5 Repeat Pleasure 3:35
  • 6 Words I Don’t Remember 6:18
  • 7 Pour Cyril 4:12
  • 8 Precious Love 4:04
  • 9 Childhood Faith in Love (Everything Must Change, Everything Must Stay the Same) 3:47
  • 10 A Power 5:00
  • 11 Very Best Friend 4:53
  • 12 House Inside (Future Is Older Than the Past) 6:06

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata