Tegan And Sara

Hearthrob, Warner ***

From acoustic indie rock to a guest slot on a Tiesto single, these Canadian siblings have indulged every element of their musical DNA throughout their 18-year career. For their seventh album, Tegan and Sara are firmly stuck on synth-based indiepop – and why not, when quality pop producer Greg Kurstin (Pink, Kylie, Lily Allen) is involved? Goodbye, Goodbye and Drove Me Wild unexpectedly pay homage to Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Cyndi Lauper, as lyrical preoccupations with heartbreak, loneliness and rejection provide a foil to their polished, buoyant melodies. The comparatively simplistic Love They Say freshens up the mix, but the emotion of the heavier songs are audibly counteracted by the slick-yet-distracting production. There's no question that a certain charm has been lost in the process, too. teganandsara.com

Download: Goodbye Goodbye, I Couldn't Be Your Friend