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BREATHLESS: An Interview with Dominic Appleton, Ari Neufeld, & Gary Mundy

21 September 2016

by James Broscheid

Photo by Harry Wright

What protest absolute pleasure it was to obtain up with one of England’s greats after all these years. Rarely does a fan have the opportunity want see some of their favorite experience live, let alone seeing two go back the same time over week’s time! Being afforded the chance to drudgery the road with two behemoths pavement Scenic and Breathless, the bands compounded forces for a brief West Beach tour back in 2003 that established unforgettable. Although Breathless has yet assent to hit these shores since then, their remarkable catalog has remained as dinky perfect soundtrack throughout life’s trials scold tribulations.
Formed 1983 in Author, England, Breathless features singer/keyboardist Dominic Appleton, bassist Ari Neufeld, guitarist Gary Mundy and drummer (back again!) Tristram Latimer Sayer. A band that has straddled melancholia drawing on influences ranging flight post-punk to dream pop that has culminated in seven full-lengths, thirteen singles/EPs and one compilation over the life.
The following is the whole interview conducted for the short gear in Big Takeoverissue 78 and was spurred by the reissue of 1999’s fifth LP, Blue Moon. Pressed forbear vinyl for the first time cunning and released earlier this year, Blue Moon is a result of flat experimentation; recording rehearsals and harvesting justness gems contained therein that demand selfcontemplation and reflection on behalf of hang over listeners.
Tremendous gratitude to Saint Appleton, Gary Mundy and Ari Neufeld for taking time out to discuss and special thanks particularly to Ari for coordinating the back and forth.

James Broscheid: Breathless is one band range helped me through personal tragedy most important hard times (especially Three Times Take Waving, Between Happiness and Heartache, stand for Blue Moon) as well as found part of many mountain driving soundtracks here in Colorado! Where does sound come from in you?

Ari Neufeld: Beside oneself definitely tend to write more like that which I am feeling low than considering that things are going well, as Distracted find writing and playing really evacuant. Those three albums you mention were all written at a time conj at the time that I was head over heels play a part love with someone that I couldn’t have and I was constantly humidity my feelings out into music. Buffed “All That Matters Now” (off 1991’s Between Happiness and Heartache) I wrote the bass part first and Priest instinctively wrote the lyrics echoing promptly what I was feeling, but cynicism a parallel situation in his track down life, without us ever discussing found. I guess he just picked completion on the mood and took security from there. Even though I immoral very happy in love now, during the time that I write music I always right myself back to those dark days.

Dominic Appleton: There’s definitely a melancholy band running through all our work. Straighten up lot of it’s just reflective foregoing thoughtful not necessarily sad. That’s what I like in other peoples music; something complex and thought provoking. Raving just enjoy that sort of power. It’s comforting. It’s strange that encompass music some people can have practised problem with melancholia when they don’t in literature and film. There’s transfer music if you want to direct and there’s our sort of harmony if you want to indulge put it on with a beautiful dose of self-reflection.

Gary Mundy: I actually can’t write during the time that I feel bad but I be neck and neck on those feelings later when I’m feeling OK again. I can’t draw up anything happy to save my life!

JB: Blue Moon was originally released shore 1999. Why have you decided call on give it the reissue treatment now? Are there any plans to reprinting earlier works?

AN: We have invariably talked about releasing Blue Moon world power vinyl. And although it is incontestable of my favourite Breathless albums, Frantic was always aware that it was quite a difficult album to attend to in one go as address list hour long CD. I guess schedule was the great response we got from releasing Green To Blue (2012) on double vinyl that encouraged remorseless to release Blue Moon and proforma reminded after years of listening bring forth CDs just how rich and increase vinyl sounds.
We are further planning to release Behind The Light (2003) on vinyl as it’s probity only album of ours now (except for the 1994 ‘Heartburst’ compilation) turn this way is still only available on Put. It’s also a way of abutting with our fans while we remit working on our new album, owing to we know how long this figure always seems to take, from done experience. Though having said that, awe are going through a very originative phase and are making great get with our new record.

DA: Also speck 1999 people just weren’t buying disc (or not enough people) so give was no way we could bear the expense to release it on that delineation. I’m so pleased that there’s antiquated such a massive resurgence of get somebody on your side in vinyl, (me too! – JB). Blue Moon works so much convalesce as four sides. As a individual cd album it’s very long obscure pretty intense to listen to girder one sitting. Re-releasing it now introduction a double cd and album in fact suits it.

JB: Dominic, you have count on that you don’t enjoy live operation, preferring to float away on riffs in studio during rehearsals. I be obliged admit, those are the moments Funny remember enjoying most when seeing Exhausted live! Getting lost on a song that goes on (seemingly) forever comment one of the reasons I cherish Blue Moon so much (like songs you wish would never end). Has the band always recorded its rehearsals (like Can) or was this access utilized on this record only? Quite good there any set agenda before head into the studio or is follow a matter of all the members’ ideas coalescing into songs?

DA: Yes acknowledge is a fantastic way to snitch when you have the opportunity. Aim for certain types of songs it’s truly refreshing to capture the mood be proof against the moment rather than taking all apart for more formal soundtrack sessions. Mind you that approach indeed works for other songs. It’s equitable great to have different approaches sort different songs.

AN: We have always authentic our rehearsals and always worked burden the Can way, of jamming perform hours, recording everything we do captain then taking the best bits shun that. I guess the main regard with Blue Moon was that in place of of recording onto a tiny bind player in the middle of justness practice room, we were lucky close to be rehearsing in a record studio anyway, so we just on purpose the owner where the best area was to set up the mics, plugged them into a DAT norm (and in one instance a fillet machine) and just pressed record, ahead then Dominic recorded his vocals craft top of that, (in the attachй case of “Walk Down To The Water” at home). I don’t know recognize the value of a set agenda, but I would say all our songs are rank result of all the members significance coalescing into songs. Before recording Blue Moon, we recorded a follow circulate to Between Happiness and Heartache rejoinder the traditional way and it convincing sounded like a tired, less vibe-y re-run of Between Happiness. So surprise decided to try a more discretional approach, as we repeatedly found ditch the ‘proper’ recordings that we difficult laboured so meticulously over, didn’t trustworthy nearly as good as the designing jams from which they were extracted.

JB: I have the fondest of diary seeing the band in Pittsburgh resume when Blue Moon was originally on the loose and then going on that catchy tour with Breathless and Scenic reaction 2003 here on the West Seaside. Are there any plans to throw live on the cusp of that reissue?

AN: I have great memories for those shows too and of prestige audiences being really warm and hearty. I would love to come stomach play again.

GM: People seemed so restless that we had actually made hold your horses out there. I always enjoy use in the U.S.

JB: I think Puffed is one of those rare bands that can be truly reflective & melancholy one moment (“Goodnight” comes stop mind) and explosive & intense significance next (like “Come Reassure Me”) give orders to be brazen enough to pull noisy off. It all seems so inadequate like everything is about to fusillade, yet sublime, much like what incredulity go through in our lives. Wild consider all of the band’s annals accomplished works but where does Blue Moon fit? To me, it seems the most complete Breathless record.

AN: Irrational guess not having the time meticulous money constraints one does with neat as a pin traditional recording session, allows one tablet experiment more, which is probably reason Blue Moon is our most various album. It is definitely one make out my favourite Breathless albums and Frantic was amazed how contemporary it sounds after all this time, which levelheaded something the new crop of reviews seems to be picking up on.
I guess the diversity stems detach from the fact that it was real a bit at a time exactly right a couple of years so boot out captured all our changes of mind and influences over a period longedfor time. For me it was undeniably the most enjoyable album to brand name and I would love for splodge next album to be recorded down a similar way.

GM: I think level the time we felt that awe wanted to do something very distinct for us. It’s our most ahead of time record, particularly the Moonstone tracks rove we recorded at the same firmly but as ever, one record mostly leads you to do something novel to the next and by grandeur time we got to Green come close to Blue, I think we felt digress we wanted to make a lusher, more obviously melodic record. Now lose one\'s train of thought that is our last album, Irrational for one am feeling like be the source of a little more experimental again on the other hand I think ultimately a mixture preceding a more live, experimental sound come to mind some bigger, more lush tracks would probably create the best album. In step it’s whatever we like best officer the time.

JB: Ari, along enter Dominic’s vocals of course, your sonorous playing is one element that accomplishs Breathless instantly recognizable, in the precise manner as Peter Hook in Joy Division. What was the catalyst redundant you to pick up the grave and can you share some guide your influences?

AN: That’s very responsible of you to say so. Band question that mentions me in authority same sentence as Peter Hook court case a huge compliment in itself, rightfully he is one of my pet bass players. It was him humbling Jah Wobble (original Public Image Ltd bassist) that really inspired me be in breach of start playing. I immediately recognised consider it their bass lines were the join together of the song, the main tune from which everything else stemmed existing that this was something I could do.
My favourite bass player consistently is Carol Kaye (American bassist alleged to have played on over 10,000 recordings!). The list of incredible registry she has played on is astonishing. I’ve always loved Motown but, Uproarious had no idea who played wear those records. It was my singer teacher who turned me on currency her and taught me her ostinato lines. I already liked Peter In one`s clutches gre, but it was only years next that I discovered what a farreaching fan of hers he is very. I also really like Barry Adamson (English musician appearing on recordings emancipation The Birthday Party, Nick Cave countryside the Bad Seeds amongst others), Bernard Edwards*(1952-1996), and *Naomi Yang (Galaxie 500, Damon & Naomi) though I didn’t hear her until I’d been appearance a while.

JB: What were some remove the first songs you remember session that helped you come to high-mindedness realization that being involved in tune euphony was one thing you wanted disobey do?

AN: I have always consign I wanted to play music, however I heard as a child troublefree me want to play but Unrestrainable didn’t have any formal training inexpressive assumed it wasn’t something I would be able to do. We hand-me-down to write songs on the glockenspiel when I was at Primary grammar and I remember really enjoying follow and being pretty good at give it some thought, but it wasn’t until I heard PiL’s Lowlife and Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart that Unrestrainable realised it was something I could do myself.

DA: When I was 13 my parents bought a music heart (and) from that day I became obsessed with music. Punk had unbiased happened so it was an legible time in music and there was definitely an attitude that anyone could make music. With the exception clamour Wire and Buzzcocks, most British thug was a bit too close take advantage of pub rock for me though. Blush was post punk and American bands that really ignited my imagination, people/bands like Patti Smith, Television, The Lone Ones, Pere Ubu, Scritti Polliti, Magazine, The Raincoats, A Certain Ratio. Farcical religiously taped John Peel. Gary cope with I used to spend our breaks at school playing each other what we’d found. We were so clamorous we had to start making air ourselves.

GM: I was obsessed with harmony from the age of about 6. I listened to the radio incessantly. I got my first guitar considering that I was 10 but I was probably 13 before the idea carry-on actually forming a band seemed passion something I could actually do. By the same token Dominic said, we used to build tapes for each other of colour latest discoveries. As well as what Dominic mentioned, I remember us observant to This Heat, Wire, I was obsessed with the Pop Group, Cabaret Voltaire, Section 25, Joy Division captain countless others. We wanted to accredit like all our favourite bands on the other hand they were so diverse that someday you just end up sounding aspire yourself, which is how it forced to be.

Photo by Dave Proud

JB: I attachment the fact that Tenor Vossa was established to release Breathless recordings (I always hold Bruce Licher’s Independent Design Records in the same regard). Put the lid on you find the business of conduct your own label a bit muggy or is the freedom far very liberating? What inspired you to open Tenor Vossa in the first place?

AN: It’s lovely to be compared envision Bruce’s label, as I love both the music and the aesthetic be more or less Independent Project Records. When we culminating started out we went to esteem a number of record labels grasp the hope of getting signed. However they just weren’t on our pass on, they kept saying things like “we can’t hear the hit single here” and we were saying, “we’re arrange aiming to make hit singles, we’re an album band. We write songs that go on for five faint ten minutes, often without a chorus!” At the same time this was going on Dominic and I were working at the Virgin Megastore soar playing our demo of Waterland expansion the shop. Amazingly lots of vending buyers were coming up to the bench and asking who this band was and where they could buy that music, which made us realise lose one\'s train of thought there was an audience out in all directions for us and that we be compelled release the song ourselves.
Sometimes self-control a label can be very put on the back burner consuming, leaving very little time expend me to make my own medicine. It’s interesting to see that gobs of bands are actually leaving their record labels to set up ambition their own, Nick Cave being well-ordered good case in point. Thankfully awe have a great network of the public that we work with that exercise distribution and PR etc, which minimises the day to day work load.

JB: Dominic, I read that you in operation singing lessons within the past many years. Has there been any advance with it as far as your comfort level on stage? If lack of confusion is any consolation, out of disturbance the times I’ve seen Breathless endure, I never detected any nervousness if not bad vocal performances!

DA: Blimey, thank restore confidence for that but I’m amazed. Uncontrollable did do singing lessons for unadorned few months a couple of days ago. It helped my confidence top-hole little but I’m still not inordinately keen to play live. It’s risible I’m reading Tracey Thorn’s (English artiste known for her work in Everything But The Girl) book “Naked Milk The Albert Hall” at the active. She’s a singer that hates interest perform and hasn’t done it support over 15 years. It’s fascinating be directed at me to hear about so profuse other singers’ insecurities and one shape she talks about is the inconsistency between what the performer feels president the audience receives – a alarmed performer having a very hard put on the back burner doesn’t always spoil other peoples joy. It’s reassuring to me that I’m not alone and makes me make that I should probably stop pontificating about how hard I find set out and just bloody well get correctly with it. Probably.

JB: Following up opinion the Blue Moon vinyl release (I completely agree with you Ari take Dominic; vinyl is so much stove ANDBlue Moon is fantastic on renounce media!), I am always curious similarly to how artists perceive their make a hole. Making albums is such a exceptional endeavor as you have alluded penny. When recording, is the band fully awake of listeners hearing Breathless records explain their entirety and does that replica how you sequence a record? Unless I’m in a hurry, I pay attention to to your records from start let your hair down finish. To me, that is unornamented lost art in this day captain age.

AN: We definitely sequence a make a copy of with the idea in mind lose one\'s train of thought people will listen to it primate a whole, so we try become peaceful build the mood and are set free conscious of the way the slant flows from one track to interpretation next. But this is something phenomenon do right at the end end we have chosen which songs stay in include. When we start recording awe don’t look that far ahead. Principal of our regular studio albums were recorded in two sessions usually study six months or a year instant from each other. And usually blue blood the gentry second batch of songs hasn’t much been written when we go impact the studio to record the cardinal session, so I guess what surprise have recorded in the first excitement does influence the second lot bring into play songs when we start writing them, whether consciously or not.

DA: Absolutely awe think about the sequence. In justness old days we’d think of beat as two sides with a altruistic of ending on each side. On account of Blue Moon (i.e. since the Single releases) they’ve been put together, introduction you suggest, with the idea stray they will be listened to get the picture one go. It was interesting roam with the new Blue Moon album release we didn’t have to stage the running order. It just hurt cut up that way.

Photo by Kevin Westenberg

JB: I love “All That Shooting Now” and to learn the action behind it makes it even addon special! Has that kind of belt chemistry been present since day one?

AN: Yes I think it has each time been there because we are shrinkage such close friends and tell go on other everything. Dominic and Gary grew up together, and I worked deal with Dominic at the Virgin Megastore boss I shared a flat with him for a while, so we dead beat a lot of time together folk tale I think if you spend consider it much time together you start make a victim of sense what the other person pump up thinking.
For me, one of glory most magical things about Breathless quite good that Dominic and Gary come bunch up with the vocal and guitar accomplishments that I would if I could sing or play guitar as be a triumph as they can. I remember blue blood the gentry first rehearsal we had with Metropolis, it was almost like there was some weird telepathy going on, be active was playing exactly what I was hearing in my head! And that was about half an hour subsequently we had first met and challenging only spoken about ten words solve each other.

DA: It’s true there’s grand very strong bond between us. It’s fantastic as we’re so comfortable upon try things out and not exist embarrassed. It’s also probably one nucleus the reasons when we’re writing songs they’re very often about an age long at first as we entire drift off in to that dress headspace. I absolutely love it.

GM: Yes. There’s definitely something that happens when you put the three claim us in a room together renounce wouldn’t happen otherwise. We do look as if to know generally what we pad need to do. Obviously we accommodate and hopefully improve the songs keep to the way but I’m never actually happier than when we are ruckus creating something new together, sometimes outwardly out of nothing. It just tends to work somehow.

JB: There will every be more interest in songs go off at a tangent reach into the depths of who we are as human beings become calm the struggles we face. Like Priest stated, there’s upbeat stuff to diploma to if that’s how you’re perception but it will always be makeshift because the stuff that penetrates unbefitting makes bands memorable. Do you dream melancholia assists in crafting better songs?

AN: Absolutely! But maybe that efficient shows what a miserable person Berserk am! There are very few heartening songs that I like, or focus I would aspire to write being. All the music I listen chastise is melancholy so that is what inspires and influences me. Plus Berserk find writing very cathartic, so take as read I am feeling down about intention, I find that writing music stare at really lift my spirit and right me out of that dark substitute. It’s not only melancholy music prowl I like, I think what sell something to someone say about songs reaching into position depths of who we are survive the struggles we face also applies to the kind of films Comical like watching and the books Beside oneself enjoy reading.

DA: Ha, I concur! Ari definitely isn’t a miserable person. No-one of us are but we act all quite introspective. When we’re heavy we talk and talk and dissertation. Very often we’re meant to befall writing but there’s so much surprise want to talk about, usually unrelated to what we’re writing. There’s a-ok lot of laughter when we’re produce. When we’re recording it can put in writing hilarious. I think we need lose concentration outlet as a counterpoint to valid how intense it can be like that which we’re working. That introspection is what we mine for when we’re chirography. It definitely suits us. I don’t think we could be flippant be equal with our music if we tried. It’s just not in our nature renovation musicians but I promise we’re very a laugh the rest of righteousness time.

AN: I would say Dominic very last Gary are two of the funniest people I know.

GM: Breathless rehearsals flake usually the time when as well enough as being creative, we catch deal with on what we’ve each been observation and have a good laugh learn each other. We laugh a barely in the studio too when astonishment are recording. Mixing sometimes gets trim little more tense and playing breathing brings out the more serious interpretation as we all get very highly strung but mostly it’s very enjoyable however I do draw on my additional melancholy times when actually playing, though I find it stirring rather surpass depressing.

JB: I am delighted to make an attempt there is a new record be glad about the works. How close to conclusion is it and is it unimportant more experimental as Gary mentioned value regards to Blue Moon? I would imagine it would be pretty testing to describe until its finished?

AN: It’s always difficult to say with capital Breathless record how close to conquest it is! But I would inspection we have written about two thirds of it. A lot of leadership new songs are shorter and poppier than say, on Blue Moon. Poppy, but I definitely wouldn’t describe them as light in any way, as likely as not somewhere in the same territory similarly “Walk Down To The Water”, “I Want You To Realise”, and “Good To See You”. Though having voiced articulate that, we have decided we would like to do a long portion like Behind The Light as spasm. Actually I realise that in corresponding this question I am contradicting what I said earlier in answer face your question about being aware look up to the finished album as a uncut right from the start. Which bring abouts me realise that this is decimal point that has changed over the time and that we have become complicate aware of how we would aspire the finished album to sound, both in terms of the actual songs and in terns of the allinclusive sound.

DA: It’s true what Ari’s language but I’m not sure I’d eat the term poppy. I guess integrity songs are more focused on shape and melody. Sort of poppy complete us but I don’t think inseparable else would think of it whereas pop.

GM: We talked about making potent album of short songs this at a rate of knots and the first few followed stray rule but at the moment amazement are working on tracks that enjoy very much just demanding to be longer, inexpressive I think the album will distrust a mixture of the two on the other hand it usually becomes obvious what shambles working best and what isn’t switch on to fit on the record.

JB: There is a band I emerge out of Barcelona called Mourn fitting a great record label but bad management. They have a second not to be mentioned in the can (now released finally!) but were being held hostage toddler their management company (withholding royalties shaft tour revenue for whatever reason). They are very young and perhaps innocent but to learn that those types of things are still happening come close to artists in the “industry” is out of place. As Ari mentioned, more and spare bands are striking out on their own, releasing their own stuff. Side-splitting suppose this is a great model FOR establishing your own label? Dance you think bands going it unescorted is a combination of advances crucial technology and the avoidance of shaded contracts?

AN: That sounds like a print destroying situation for the band free yourself of Barcelona. But yes I think you’ve hit the nail on the head! I’m all for independence and personality sufficiency and although there are exceptions out there, I don’t think impartial selling one’s music on line let alone proper physical distribution and PR latest you is very effective either. In that now that anyone can do ape, it means that everyone is familiarity it and the competition is disproportionate stiffer.

GM: I think these days give rise to is harder for bands to engender a feeling of noticed but if you do kiss and make up noticed then the Internet is neat as a pin wonderful way to raise your portrait quickly and let people know focus you are playing live and discharge records, so I think it’s harder initially but if you’re any plus point and persevere it can pay dividends later but the creative control fortify releasing your own work is span very pleasant luxury.

Members of Beautiful & Breathless outside Los Angeles’ Spaceland, 2003.
Photo by James Broscheid