Hard to believe but this was González’s debut album back in 2003 (2005 in the US). His sound is already so fully formed and just wonderful in “Heartbeats” but also “Deadweight on Velveteen” and “Lovestain” and others. Just an all around brilliant debut.

My copy is actually the 20th anniversary edition issued on Mute in 2023, with a bonus LP of 13 live songs from a 2003 performance at Gothenburg Concert Hall – including covers “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and “Hand On Your Heart.” I got this from the merch table when González played the Cabot Theater in Beverly.