Only a broken heart can hold the world marks the ambitious full-length debut of London-based, Taiwanese producer and singer-songwriter Susan Style, chronicling a cultural migration from Taipei to London. Inspired by the philosophical concept of “blessed brokenness,” the project blends avant-garde synth-pop with cinematic soundscapes — bridging Eastern emotional depth and Western electronic experimentation. Style handled the entire creative cycle from writing to production, eventually collaborating with Grammy-winning mixer Max Heyes to solidify the release’s absorbing soundscapes.
The artist’s talent for dynamic soundscapes and structural developments is apparent right away, with album opener “The Hope from the Dream.” An initially understated charm envelops, with spoken-word lushness and slight, spacey electronic elements pairing for a climactic, cinematic intrigue. Arp-y synth trickles complement the robotic-feeling vocal presence, arriving thereafter into a gorgeously dreamy array of strings and warmly thumping rhythms. The vocals here also achieve a harmonious, elegant aspect that adds wonderfully to the serenely crafted atmosphere. Only a broken heart can hold the world kicks off in quality form with “The Hope from the Dream,” and the memorable songcraft doesn’t let up from there.
The ensuing “The Song Sung by the Stars” stirs as well in its artful momentum, here traversing from piano-laden calmness — with shades of Beach House — into an infectious, arpeggiated energy; the track consumes in its variety between sequences with introspective calmness and those with a catchy, illuminated prowess. In the more vibrant spectrum, “Weird in a Good Way” infuses jangly guitars, celebratory vocals, and playful rhythms for a party-set enthusiasm, while “A Fling” delights in its twinkling dream-pop emotiveness. Consistently impressing with its quality songwriting and atmospheric settings, Only a broken heart can hold the world is an excellent album from Susan Style.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
