There's a soft sophistication to Dutch singer/songwriter
Benny Sings
' music that evokes the sunny adult-contemporary pop of the '70s and early '80s. It's a vibe he has cultivated on past albums and one he brings to another level with 2023's
Young Hearts
. A collaboration with producer
Kenny Beats
, the album leans more towards the early-'80s end of the throwback spectrum as
Sings
and
Beats
marry jazzy, synth-accented melodies with bubbly electronic grooves.
first got together for the track "Don't Look" off
' 2021 mixtape
Beat Tape II
. As with that track, the songs on
are a perfect balance of
' laid-back melodic hooks and
' funky, hip-hop-inspired grooves. It's an immediately infectious blend perhaps best expressed on the title track, a song that wouldn't sound out of place on a
Joe Jackson
album of the early '80s. Joining
on the track is California singer
Remi Wolf
, whose bright, highly resonant vocals nicely contrast with
' more low-key style.
Wolf
also jumps on board for "Pyjamas," a Latin-inflected number that evokes the balmy, '70s Brazilian Tropicalia of artists like
Caetano Veloso
Gal Costa
. Equally expressive moments follow, including the piano-driven "The World," the bittersweet ballad "Love Will Find a Way," and the R&B-infused "Take Your Time."
is certainly evocative of the breezy AM pop era, so much so that it's easy to imagine yourself listening to the album while driving around in a convertible VW Bug. That said, the synergy between
gives the record a nice balance between a throwback coziness and contemporary hipness. ~ Matt Collar