Liverpool Sound and Vision 9/10
The sound of seduction is more than an offering of red roses to the person who took our heart in high school, it is the memory of the Hideaway we ran to calm down and collect our thoughts when a reply in either the affirmative or the scorned down look of the resounding no, the loud, embarrassed squeal heard in the corridors and the empty laughs of our compadres as they take us by the shoulder and commiserate or celebrate along with us.
The Hideaway is its seduction of softly drawn perspective when handled by the grace of Evan ap Roberts and his musical nom de plume of Breezers, to whom any stringed instrument seems to be an adventure uncontained and expressed upon with incredible fortitude and might of a master smiling from the heavens and with the presence of a soul tucked between ever beating note.
Identity perhaps seems to be at the forefront of the album, the willingness to speak of the observations and dramas witnessed but in such a way that does not impinge on the privacy of the soul, the combat ready assertion that we are told to have at our disposal when creating art or even falling in love, is smoothed over, transitioned to feel more than natural, more than at ease with any reply it may face.
Aiding the formative aural pleasure is Melissa Castellano, Graeme Gibson, and Michael Nau, and whether in, vocals, acoustic, or on instruments such as the lap steel guitar, electronic piano, or the well-placed cool of the glockenspiel, what comes across is the talent and persuasion of the songs they combine to make Breezers such a dynamic proposition, but one drenched in the warm waters of accord, of being in touch and synchronisation to make the Hideaway stand out in all conditions, whilst retaining intrigue and secrecy of spirit.
This is captured throughout the album, but especially in tracks such as the outstanding Roses which has a lyrically Jim Steinman, modern goth feel to its haunting and hunting nature, the proud stance of Cemetery and Orion’s Belt, the fiery gentle being of Caldera Nights, Cavern’s Reveal, and Dirt Road Dirtbag.
An album of deep fascination and observation, Breezers captivates outside of the Hideaway and in full understood presence to the crowds.
Breezers releases Hideaway on March 8th.
Ian D. Hall