Ha Ha Heartbreak

It has been half a decade since Warhaus, the brainchild of Maarten Devoldere (Balthazar) suddenly conquered our musical hearts with the triumphant double victory of "We F*cked a Flame into Being" (2016) and "Warhaus" (2017).

The songs of the brand-new album "Ha Ha Heartbreak" came gushing out if him in a mere three weeks in the sultry city of Palermo. All Devoldere needed was the solitude of a hotel room, a guitar, a microphone, and a heart that had recently been broken in thousands of pieces. The sorrow was hard to handle, so, of course, Sicily was an escape. But as it goes, those who try to outrun life quickly run into themselves.

This treacherous contrast between form and content persists throughout the entire album: "Ha Ha Heartbreak"— even the title is catchy — wraps Devoldere’s sorrow into hooks, instant singalong choruses and irresistible melodies.

The sound, however, remains wonderfully light. It swings and glows with tantalizing strings, sensual backing vocals, horns, playful piano parts, anything to lighten the load. It allows "Ha Ha Heartbreak" to be a moving emotional exploration as well as a vessel of great musical richness.