The Broken Heartbreakers “Wintersun” Album Release
In Store 28 June 2010
Album Release Tour Dates: June 25,26 July 2, 3
The Broken Heartbreakers are following up on the critical success of their 2007 self-titled album with the release this June of Wintersun, the third full-length record from the Auckland five-piece. The full 5 piece band will be touring the main centres in June and July with support from Bond Street Bridge, ahead of his departure to Europe for a three-month tour.
Sonically, Wintersun is a natural outgrowth of the direction the band has been taking since the last record. A change in rhythm section in 2007 saw the band evolve into a powerful live unit, and extensive touring since then has honed the live show into a sonically lush and dynamic experience. It was this live sound that led to the approach the band took to recording Wintersun. The main thing about this record is that its a band album, says John Guy Howell, half of the Heartbreakers’ core songwriting duo. Whereas the last album was honed and polished in the studio over a long period, this time around we tried as much as possible to capture the live band and the live arrangements on the record.
This approach involved setting up the full band, live in their living room, and recording the bulk of the songs in single takes – an unusual technique in this age of digital overdubs. The result is an album that sounds as live and dynamic as an intimate club gig, with the energy and immediacy of five musicians playing together in a room. ‘Recording live in our home meant that we could take our sweet time and just relax. We were really able to get inside the songs and capture our best performances’ says Howell. ‘We wanted to get across the subtleties on the quiet songs, lock down the groove on the louder ones and just enjoy the whole process.
The result is an album that showcases all of the Broken Heartbreakers’ trademarks – John Guy Howell and Rachel Bailey’s song writing and rich vocal harmonies, Mike Stoodley’s (ex-Verlaines) solid and melodic basslines, Myles Allpress’s (Heavy Jones, Dictaphone Blues) sensitive stickwork, and Sam Prebble’s (Bond Street Bridge, Reb Fountain Band) sparkling mandolin and 12-string. The band uses this sonic palette to bring to life Howell and Bailey’s songs of misplaced love, urban alienation, quiet resignation and tentative hope, creating arrangements that range from fragile to thunderous.
The album release tour marks the end of a productive era for the Broken Heartbreakers. With Sam heading off on a three month European tour, Myles focussing on being a house dad, and John and Rachel planning overseas touring later in the year, this will be the last time for a while that the band will play together in this form. This means that the band is determined to make the shows special. Were really proud of our new record and the work weve done as a band over the past couple of years, and were going to make sure that comes across in these shows. says Bailey.
The Broken Heartbreakers Wintersun Release tour with support from Bond Street Bridge and guests:
Christchurch: Friday 25th June, Harbourlight Theatre
Dunedin: Saturday 26th June, Chicks Hotel
Wellington: Fri 2nd July, Happy
Auckland: Saturday 3rd July Grey Lynn Library Hall, Great North Road
