The Broken Heartbreakers album out this week

The Broken Heartbreakers are an Auckland-based “folk-pop” group. They started life in 2002 when song-writer John Guy Howell realised his heart was hurting a bit more than usual and he wanted to write some songs about it. Howell teamed up with singer Rachel Bailey, and the nucleus of the group was formed. To their surprise, the band’s repertoire of songs of “love, loss and lonesome nights” soon garnered a loyal following beyond the usual friends and family circuit. As their popularity has grown, the group has been chuffed to play at the bass player’s brother’s wedding and to support such international acts as Lou Barlow and The Handsome Family.

This newly released album is a labour of love. In its making, The Broken Heartbreakers boldly chose to turn up their collective noses at today’s digital recording methods. As a result, their album was produced using only vintage analogue technology and was recorded and mixed to tape in “real time”. Real performances by real people. No digital effects were used in the making of this record. Plate reverbs, echo chambers and arse-burning valve amplifiers informed and enriched every loving detail. Indeed, the group loves to tell anyone who will listen, that David Bowie produced his seminal 1970s “Ziggy Stardust” album using the very same mixing desk. It isn’t true of course.

The band will be playing nationally in November/ December to promote the album release.

The touring band will consist of John Guy Howell, Rachel Bailey, Sam Prebble, Mike Stoodley (ex-Verlaines) and on drums Myles Allpress (Heavy Jones).

The National Tour dates are:
November 17th – Raglan Arts Centre, Raglan
November 24th – Happy, Wellington
November 30th – The Dogs Bollix, Auckland
December 7th – Wunderbar, Christchurch
December 8th – Arc Café, Dunedin