The 1981 Listening Post - John Lawton - Heartbeat (AKA Hardbeat)

 Reviewed by Robert Sliger

Released: February 1981 John Lawton Heartbeat (AKA Hardbeat) Genre: Krautrock, English Style Rating: 2 out of 5 Highlights: I forgot this as soon as I listened to it, so…maybe “Lola”? Heartbeat is a “solo” album from British Uriah Heep/Lucifer’s Friend vocalist John Lawton and Lucifer's Friend guitarist Peter Hesslein. I air quote “solo” because it basically IS a Lucifer’s Friend record, with the same mates playing the same Teutonic glossiness and chart-obsessed production of their album Mean Machine, also released in 1981. Heartbeat features typical pop rock stylings perfected by American bands like Loverboy, Toto, Jefferson Starship, and Survivor. Lawton is a fine singer in the Marty Balin/Bobby Kimball mode with a soft hint of Scorpions’ Klaus Meine, though he lacks their authoritative vocal pyrotechnics and presence. Lyrics are typical stadium pop-rock romantic drivel—where the key is to find a clever way of saying the same “how come you don’t WANT me anymore” cliche and falling way short of the mark because it’s hard as hell to be clever about being broken heart when that is so discordant with the feeling you’re trying to describe (“Stairway” and “Christine” being perfect examples). The very clean recording will be familiar with anyone who’s enjoyed Kraut-rockers like Nena or Peter Schilling (without the new wave affectation). Peter Hesslein’s guitar and unexpected borrowed chord structures are a highlight. Wish he’d solo more. The band plays everything with professional polish, especially the very elastic baselines by Dieter Horns. An exception to the many competent arrangement choices should be made for the faux-Caribbean nonsense of “Darkness Over the Island.” C’mon guys—commit to a style or don’t—make up your mind! Fun fact: “Hard Beat” is a (possibly bootleg) UK/Russian version of the record on CD, hence the misspelled title. [Ed. Note: This album was originally issued in 1980 in Germany and as a test pressing as Hardbeat. It then had a major release in North America in 1981 and was retitled Heartbeat.]