Behind The Vinyl - "Nova Heart" with Gordon Deppe of the Spoons 

I first heard Nova Heart in 1982, at age 15, while on summer vacation my friend and his family at a lake in Canada. The song stopped me dead in my tracks. It was - and continues to be - one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my life. It is quintessential new-wave ethereal music of the 80's. What a great time to be alive!!

I remember lying in my bed at 16 and listening to Brave New Waves on CBC radio with Brent Banbury. This song came on. I sat up in my bed...bought it the next day at Freds Records. Great times.

Spoons was the only band I ever wrote a fan letter to and I couldn’t believe it when I opened the mail one day and Gordon wrote me back!! That was in the early 90’s. A true musician, amazing person, songwriter...

Song still knocks me out. Beautiful. How lucky are we.

Nova Heart to me is the song that literally defines the 80's. it's so dark. uncertain and a pure emotion of youth. I'm from Waterloo Ontario and cannot believe I grew up so close to greatness

I miss those days, growing up in Canada in the 80s with the Canadian music has such fond nostalgic memories.

This song hits you in the feels as they say these days. It's almost painfully emotional. Something about that soft, dull, sad, dreamy sound, plus add the fact that those days are long long over and aren't coming back.

This song will always remind me of Toronto.

I first heard this song first in a record store and rushed to the service person and asked what it was, I wanted it. Got the last single they had...and had to eventually get a few more as I wore them out. Eventually got the A&S album, the tape, and the extended single of NH. Absolutely loved them, I was in high school and travelled around not only watching them play concerts, but to the PR sessions at all the malls around GTA and their burbs. I had written an essay about their first album for a school project and gave it to him. He wrote me back with such kindness and inspiring me to write more. How many rock stars would do that? Fond memories, sounds like he is still a nice guy.

They were the undisputed 'Sound of Toronto' in the 80's. This song and a few others stand the test of time and are classics. There are young people rediscovering these bands and they belong to a new generation of listeners. Their importance to Canadian music and internationally becomes more assured even now. Really amazing music and great talent.

So lucky to have attended Univ of Buffalo in the early 80's and learn about so many amazing Canadian artists who didn't break through in the US listening to CFNY. Despite Dave Marsden's 1 play a day for any song rule, I thought Spoons were enormously popular!

This is one of my favorite songs that has ever been written. It's perfect.

I absolutely love love love this song. My all time 80's favorite.

Such a brilliant song, to this day!

Just met Gordon this weekend. What an amazing man. So awesome to chat with him.

THIS is a CANADIAN Artist that EVERY Canadian ought to have with quality sound in their #Libraries! ABSOLUTELY!!! THE SPOONS are Truly #Special... #TRULY TRULY #SPECTACULAR !!!!!

A friend and I went to see them in Brampton Ontario in the early 80s. I can’t remember the name of the place but we were early. It was cold outside so a staff member let us stand inside near the coat check. Because we were the first there someone invited us into a room where the band was speaking with media and there was a huge buffet table. We both spoke freely with all 4 of the band which….to this day…was surreal and unbelievable. They were super friendly and generous with their pre-concert time. Ahhhhh….the 80s.❤️

I still listen to this album, so so good!!

One of the best New Wave songs! Spoons played our high school gym 1981. Awesome! Summers at Ontario Place Forum. Best of times! Gordon wrote the best lyrics, creative, poetic. Wish I still had my Arias and Symphonies LP!! Just for the keepsake. Fun fact: enthralled by the album cover, learned of the Lipizzaner Horses. Famous in Austria. When I backpacked in Europe 1985 headed straight to Vienna to see them (practice only, being a poor student).

My fav part of this song is when the synth at 4:20 sustains one note (C3) and weaves into the chorus. Splendid and spine tingling.

such a cool guy and very nice!!

The Spoons is one of my all-time fave 80s bands. "Nova Heart" is one of my all-time faves from "Arias and Symphonies" album. Great stuff!

The Spoons were my fav band growing up

Still love this song!!! 👍❤

Wonderful story Gordon - thank you and the Spoons!

Great to hear all of this, Gord! Terrific and humble guy too. Love the Spoons!

I saw the Spoons play at my college(George Brown) cafeteria in Toronto way back in the day. My friends and I all knew that we were seeing something special; Sandy twirling in a tutu, cooking up killer bass riffs, the drummer synchronized and playing off the drum machine. Good memories.

Played this back in the late ninties to an all techno rave crowd in Toronto. They went absolutely nuts. Years later I call myself lucky enough know the gentleman. Gord is a great guy, very humble and down to earth. Michael in Milton.

High School memories , great era of music ..lifestyle in general .

I never get tired of hearing about bands hearing themselves on the radio for the first time.....that feeling must be awesome, its not the kill tho,its the thrill of the hunt

The arrival of all these new generations of synthesizers just made it all explode in the early eighties. Still regret selling that Roland JX3P.

Love the Spoons. Great song.

one of my favorite songs of that time. great video too. nice to hear the story behind it

If the Spoons were British, this song would have been an all time New Wave classic.

#highfive love Spoons , thanx and no worries, still spending time dancing because of you guys!

This song is pure Magic

Terrific all around... Thanks for sharing...

The song is SO DAMNED AMAZING! I love so many layers and moods and feelings come through on this. I wish there was more music like this. I am so glad it's not this obscure thing that no one else heard. Still a really lovely listen. No idea that it was OMD-inspired, but I hear it. I will always love this.

If I was to describe the Arias and Symphonies album, I would have to classify it as being New Wave. The video "Nova Heart" says it all. The Spoons were the Canadian pioneers of early 80's New Wave during the same era as Devo and Soft Cell. Second generation of Canadian New Wave was bands like Platinum Blonde.

Very cool

'Timeless'...how else could this song be described.

I read his book. I think he is a very good writer and it's an interesting book about him and the Spoons. ☮

Wow - great stuff.

Love the spoons

Sophisticated, simple and hooky, the early 80s sound.

Saw the Spoons in 1989 perform in front of a small crowd in a bar that doesn't exist anymore in Edmonton. They played their hearts out and it will forever be one of my favorite performances. The only drawback if it can be called a drawback is that the original drummer and keyboard player had left the band. Excellent band that I am proud to say is Canadian!

Rose Villa Tavern in Welland Ontario my band 16 Again opened for The Spoons , much fun , they were great . Like a dream . I remember a girl asking for my autograph , I was so embarrassed !! Like please , you are making fun of me ! We opened for Blue Peter a few times as well ... man I wish I could go back in time ... don't we all , if only to have a look for a while , like a dream

great enduring song that rocks and melts the heart. Always will be famous.

Hi I agree The sSpoons were are still are great they often still play around Canada other Canadian bands Toronto based Triumph platinum Blonde glass tiger but Spoons have some great music. My favourite Romantic Traffic Love the subway time capsule. Lisa

We used to play this when skipping school, playing video games

I liked it down deep,deep in my nova heart.

I'd love to hear some old recordings of Deppe and Horne in their progrock Genesis days.

If the Spoons were British or American they would have had 3-4 Billboard #1's.

He sounds as Canadian as he should. It’s like i’m out east.

how about aldo nova fantasy?

Got her autograph

This might be a silly question, anyone know what speakers he’s using?

Spoons is way better sounding to my ears than OMD.

Ya i agree with him lol

I never realised how influential English bands were to the rest of the world. Pretty much every band this bloke mentions are from England. Nice fella too.

all i could look at was how cheap audio research speakers were back then. they tried to have the JVC look.

Led Zeppelin was not on the charts in 1982. But maybe he means when they formed.

He was hot back in the day