Breton
War Room Stories
February 3 2014 (Cut Tooth/Believe Recordings)
8.5/10
Words: Andrew Major
Following the release of their debut 2012 album ‘Other People Problems’, South-East London residents; Breton, went into hiding. The hiding place of choice was the sensationally named ‘Funkhaus’ studios in East Berlin where the band begun working on that difficult second album.
What came out of the Funkhaus was ‘War Room Stories’. A sprawling collection of tracks soaked in all the atmosphere and ambience of the converted radio station. A far more forward-thinking record in comparison to ‘Other People Problems’ with a real sense of depth, attitude and dare I say it a more commercial edge than previously released material.
The record launches with ‘Envy’, an instant volley of synth melodies married with an off kilter rhythm section and frontman Roman Rappak’s distinctive vocal style, topped off with an infectious chorus and you have all the makings of an indie hit, but wait a minute! Breton have built a reputation for being an underground artistic collective, not a mainstream electro-indie outfit… Panic over, ‘S4’ brings around a far more familiar Breton, with electronic crackles and rumbles setting the foundations for a fully automated affair, that still manages to cram in memorable melodies and hooks.
‘Legs & Arms’ chugs along with its pulsating beat and hard-hitting bass line, if you don’t move a single part of your body while listening, you’re a robot for sure. Effortlessly breezing into lead track ‘Got Well Soon’, a landscape of synth textures and processed beats glued together a fast-paced vocal line that has undoubtedly moved away from the Foals tinged style of earlier releases.
The trio of ‘Closed Category’, ‘National Grid’ and ‘Search Party’ mellow proceedings down slightly and enter an analogue state of acoustic drums and pianos with a more classic song-writing formula introduced while always retaining a sense of live energy, ‘Search Party’ hits a peak in song-writing prowess that is sure to prick up the ears of global audiences. Closing track ‘Fifteen Minutes’ brings ‘War Room Stories’ to a rapturous end that is sure to set festivals alight this Summer, the inclusion of organic samples has been a regular addition to Breton’s tracks and aids to close out the record and settle you back into the daily grind.
The way in which Breton present their work has been consistently original and intriguing since day one. With a string of short film clips accompanying sample tracks from the album and vibrant artwork releases popping up on their social networks, there is never too much given away too soon, it’s always just right and certainly goes a long way in retaining the bands reputation as a group of artists who truly live for what they do.
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