Through 7 albums, 1 compilation, plus 13 singles and EP’s
London 4 piece Breathless have cut their own creative swathe
across the musical landscape. Beginning in 1983 right up to
present, the band has stayed busy – minus a hiatus or two.
Lead singer Dominic Appleton has contributed vocals on This
Mortal Coil’s Filigree & Shadow. And there’s a brand new album
tentatively entitled “See Those Colours Fly” being released this
year. Founding members Ari Neufeld and Dominic Appleton join
me in this little Q&A session.
First off, how has life been throughout the lockdown?
ARI: It was awful seeing the suffering all around. People dying
and losing their jobs.
From a personal point of view I thought I would really hate it, not
being able to go to any gigs or meet up with friends, but I
actually really liked a lot of things about it.
I loved the peace and quiet and the fact that I could really
concentrate on my work without any distractions.
I think I would have gone crazy if I lived alone, or couldn’t have
gone to the park every day for a walk, but here in England, we
were allowed out once a day for exercise so I really made the
most of being outdoors.
DOMINIC: Like Ari, on a personal level, I loved lockdown. I feel
guilty saying it when other people were suffering so much but I
loved it. I loved the peace. My anxiety virtually disappeared. I do
live alone but the solitary element didn’t bother me at all. Mind
you, I was very lucky in that as a musician and a gardener I was
able to continue working throughout. I learnt a lot about myself
and it gave me an opportunity to assess what was valuable and
important to me. My life has changed for the better since
lockdown.
I imagine you did some writing and composition of new material
during this period?
ARI: I spent most of lockdown working on See Those Colours
Fly.
I was supposed to be editing and preparing the tracks for
Kramer to mix. But every time I sat down to do some editing, I
heard a new melody line in my head, so just kept adding more
and more little melodies as I went. I fractured my elbow in 2018,
and couldn’t play bass or guitar for a while, so had to find other
ways to play the ideas in my head and started playing one
fingered synth as a quick way of recording them.
DOMINIC: For me it was the same, it was an opportunity to
focus on things like music.
Ok, so how soon can we expect to see the new album
released?
ARI: The CD and Digital version are out on 29th July and Red
Translucent Vinyl on 5th August.
With the Download Single “We Should Go Driving” released on
15th July.
For this album you’ve chosen to work with producer Kramer
(Galaxie 500, Low). How did this arrangement come about?
ARI: Kramer mixed 3 tracks on our last album Green To Blue,
which we were really pleased with, so we decided to take a leap
of faith and get him to mix the whole of our new album.
DOMINIC: I can’t remember how we first came into contact with
him. How did it happen Ari?
ARI: He contacted us, which was wonderful, being such big
fans of Low and Galaxie 500.
What can we expect from the new album?
ARI: It’s very dreamlike and hallucinogenic. All the drums are
programmed as Tristram was in a car accident and in a coma
and we didn’t know what the outcome would be, so I had to
program the drums. Thankfully he is OK. So it’s very spacey
and apart from a couple of songs, very laid back.
DOMINIC: Yes it’s a ‘make yourself comfortable and drift away’
sort of album!
As teenagers, was there a favorite record store you would
frequent? (Before Virgin Megastore)
ARI: Before the Megastore there were lots of small Virgin
shops, so I guess those.
DOMINIC: Oh my goodness yes! There were Bonaparte and
Beanos in Croydon. Rough Trade in West London. Beggars
Banquet in Earls Court. I also really liked Virgin Oxford Walk (on
Oxford Street, London) which was run by Jim Thirlwell and
Trevor Reidy. I absolutely loved those shops as a teenager.
Post punk was such an exciting time in music. When I was 13
or 14 I used to buy stuff mail order through Small Wonder.
Dominic, before Breathless you were in a band called Cruel
Memory. Any “memories”? Did you release any material?
DOMINIC: Yes I do remember, it was such a formative time for
me. It was a bunch of friends from school and me. Gary played
guitar and sang and I played keyboards. We played fairly
regularly at Croydon Warehouse Theatre which is where we
met Anne Clark the poet – we played on her first album. I loved
it. A Cruel Memory released limited edition cassettes that we
sold at gigs. I haven’t listened to them for decades!!!
Recall how the two of you met.
ARI: We met at the Virgin Megastore. I had been there a few
months longer than Dominic, so had to show him the ropes. We
immediately hit it off and soon became good friends and started
going to gigs together.
DOMINIC: Ha, we hit it off really well. Too well as far as Virgin
were concerned. I remember we weren’t allowed to work
together as we chatted and kidded around too much.
ARI: Oh yes, that’s right we got separated, like school children!
And Ari, you were in a band at the time but not really happy with
the direction (or lack of direction thereof)? And the two of you
decided to form your own band?
ARI: Dominic and I were both in this band. I could hear Dominic
playing lovely things on the keyboard (this was before he sang)
but he was constantly being drowned out by what the others
were doing, which was pretty awful anyway. The singer was a
real prima donna and referred to us as her “backing band” so
we decided to leave and form our own band, which became
Breathless.
DOMINIC: Yes, that band wasn’t any fun at all. It’s not
surprising that Ari and I splintered off and recruited Gary to play
guitar straight away!
Regarding the band’s name, who is the fan of French New
Wave cinema?
ARI: I am a bit of a fan, but more of Chabrol than Godard.
Actually more of a Visconti fan and fan of Italian cinema. We
just liked the name as we felt it was timeless.
DOMINIC: We needed a name to book some studio time. We
often talked about names but got nowhere. I think eventually we
just plucked it out of Time Out magazine’s film guide just before
we made the phone call. I hadn’t seen the film and when I did I
have to confess I didn’t think it was all that good.
Ari, do you pattern your bass playing after anyone in particular?
Who are some bassists you admire?
ARI: My biggest influence is Carole Kaye, who I know also
influenced Peter Hook, whom, I love as well. I also love Chic, so
Bernard Edwards, though I’m not sure how much of his playing
is reflected in Breathless’ music! My bass teacher, Eric
Richards, also taught me lots of classical pieces in the bass
clef, which really brought out my melodic side.
Dominic, you have such a beautiful voice, I can’t believe you
didn’t take lessons or sing in the choir as a youth?
DOMINIC: Thank you very much. I didn’t sing when I was
young. I wasn’t even in the school choir – I remember everyone
had to audition one by one in front of the class. Everyone had
these little boy soprano voices. When it came to my turn I just
imitated them. It must have been awful. Needless to say, I failed
the audition. I started singing when Ari and I first tried making
music together. I had to get drunk to do it – even though I was
just with Ari. I wasn’t very confident. In fact, despite the lovely
things people have said about my voice, I’ve never been very
confident about it. That’s one of the reasons I hate playing live
so much.
Talk about the chemistry in the band from the onset.
ARI: Dominic played me something by A Cruel Memory,
(probably one of those cassettes Dominic mentioned), soon after
the 2 of us had our first rehearsal, and I said something like,
“We have to have that guitarist!” So Gary came to rehearsal.
Everyone was really shy and nervous, so we hardly spoke,
even though Dominic and Gary knew each other quite well. But
the moment the three of us started playing together, it was like
some kind of magic was happening and it has been like that
pretty much ever since!
How early on did you know you wanted to form your own label
and why?
ARI: After we recorded “Waterland”.
It was initially going to be just a demo. We took it around
various record labels and they just didn’t get what we were
trying to do. At the same time Dominic and I were working at
Virgin and we played “Waterland” in the shop and lots of
customers came up to the counter asking what it was and
where they could buy it, which got us thinking, that there might
be a market for it if we released it ourselves.
DOMINIC: Yes, going to record labels and being told we
sounded like Joy Division was a real bore. We didn’t sound
anything like Joy Division. What was the matter with these
people?!
And you never saw a need for a manager?
ARI: We were approached by some, but they just wanted to
change us. Change our music.
My first Breathless album I purchased was Three Times and
Waving. My favorite track has always been “Is It Good News
Today”. Love the icy keyboards and Ari’s bass in the beginning
and how the song slowly builds and then the jam towards the
end. Who decided to end the song suddenly like that? I think
it’s the only way it could end.
ARI: It was a long time ago, so I can’t remember, who decided
on the ending.
That’s one of my favourite songs on Three Times And Waving
too, along with “Let’s Make A Night Of It” and “Waiting On The
Wire” and one of the first songs we recorded with Martyn Watts
who joined the band half way through the recording of that
album.
DOMINIC: I think we ended it abruptly because there was a
mistake in the take and we had to cut it dead there. I’m really
glad it happened that way, I think it sounds great.
Now speaking of favorites, my top 2 are the double single
“Over and Over”/”All That Matters Now”. And I can’t decide
which I like best.
ARI: Yes! Both those songs are amongst my favourites too, so I
can’t help you!
DOMINIC: Oh blimey, I find it impossible to pick a favourite.
Over the years do you feel you have continued to evolve as a
band?
ARI: Yes very much. I heard a tape of us playing in Rome in
the 80s and was surprised at how rough edged and punky we
sounded. I think every album is a step forward.
And when it isn’t we scrap it and start again, like we did after
Between Happiness And Heartache.
DOMINIC: Yes, you have to evolve. We do it for the love of it, I
don’t think we’d still be together if we didn’t feel like we are
progressing.
Can you explain your popularity in Italy, especially during the
80’s?
ARI: I think Italians are romantics and our music is deeply
romantic, both in terms of the sound and lyrics.
Both Dominic and Gary were brought up as Catholics and I am
often reminded of the sound of a church organ when I listen to
Dominic’s keyboards, so maybe there is something resonating
subconsciously there too.
DOMINIC: It could be the romance but really I have no idea. I’m
very grateful for it though.
Do you both prefer recording to playing live?
ARI: Yes, especially since we have been recording at home.
DOMINIC: I love writing and recording. Playing live is a torture,
so many things are out of our control.
Explain “post studio blues”?
ARI: It’s the musicians version of Post Natal Depression. When
one has been working, and focusing on something for months
and then when it’s completed, there is a sense of anti climax.
Dominic, how were you approached by Ivo to sing on one of the
This Mortal Coil albums?
DOMINIC: 4AD was one label that showed interest when we
sent out our first demo. Ivo contacted us to say he liked what
we were doing but he felt we weren’t quite there yet. I’ve heard
that first demo and I agree with him! Once we decided to start
Tenor Vossa Ivo stayed in touch and was really helpful and
encouraging. He still is to this day.
I think you do a wonderful rendition of “The Jeweller”. Tom
Rapp and Pearls Before Swine are very much underrated
artists. The album These Things Too should be a classic.
So there was never any talk of signing you guys to 4AD?
ARI: Yes.
DOMINIC: There was talk. I think there was a suggestion at
some point that we rerecord some of our songs with a drum
machine which didn’t go down very well with us. Funny that now
the new album is all drum machines!
Did you enjoy working with John Fryer on your own material?
ARI: Yes! I remember listening back to “Across The Water”, which
I think was the first song we did with him and just being amazed
at the actual sound of it, the largeness and depth and all the
mysterious sounds, that I had no idea where they came from,
just wafting across it, like they were in slow motion.
Which recording studio have you enjoyed working in the most?
ARI: Ari Ola Panda (what I call my home studio) and Blackwing
1, as it had such an amazing sound and because so many of
our favourite records were recorded there.
DOMINIC: The small Blacking studio was fantastic. it had a
really good feeling. These days, working at home is amazing.
You can disappear into it for hours and hours without winding
everybody else up AND without them winding you up. I miss the
laughter though. Breathless recording sessions were hysterical.
Now that you’ve had a taste of recording at home, do you prefer
that over being in a studio?
ARI: I do totally. It’s so much more relaxed. There are no time
or money constraints, so one can experiment more. Try out
different ideas, do lots of takes.
And it was perfect Kramer mixing it all at the end, though
obviously it would have been even better mixing face to face
with him.
DOMINIC: Absolutely.
Ari, I imagine running Tenor Vossa keeps you pretty busy?
ARI: it’s crazy, there is always something to do. But it does go in
cycles depending on if we have a new release or not. So yes
now it’s pretty crazy, as you can imagine.
Any short or long term plans for Breathless?
ARI: Playing live I hope!
What interests do you have outside music?
ARI: I studied film and photography at college, so I still love
going to the cinema. I have recently been making a video for
our single “We Should Go Driving” and have really got into it big
time! And really want to do more video.
To relax I love sunbathing, preferably by the sea, reading a
good book. I am currently reading Elena Ferrante’s Naples
Quartet, which I can’t put down.
DOMINIC: I work as a gardener which I love. I’ve also helped
run a nightclub called Duckie for the last 27 years. And I read
and read and read. Fiction and poetry mostly.
Well thank you both for your time and I wish you continued
success in the future!
ARI: Thank you!
Tending The Pale Bloom 