Breaks Co-Op - The Sound Inside
Eight years after Zane Lowe and Hamish Clark released the NZ electronic classic album Roofers comes another revelation. This time, their creative output is not beats, loops and samples but SONGS. A beautifully crafted selection it is too, largely based around a core of acoustic guitar and the soulful voice of new member and producer Andy Lovegrove (from The Away Team). There's no sign of the frustration of the eight months it took to put the album together (in their attempts to break away from their last musical outpourings). Instead it's unashamedly inspired by their vinyl collections, some breaks and strong drums, plus classic songwriting of the '70s (the influence of Marvin Gaye and Crosby Stills Nash & Young can definitely be heard), along with a fresh and pure perspective (a touch of Portishead on the track Settle Down, a rap from Otis Frizzell on The Otherside). The songwriting is outstanding - simple, timeless, incredibly lush, beautifully recorded. And whilst it was put together in the UK, there's an undeniable NZ summer feel behind it while still maintaining an international appeal. This album has been put together so seamlessly, and with so much heart, it is destined to be a second essential Breaks Co-op release.
By Tim Page
Review kindly provided by NZ Musician magazine
