Almost four decades have elapsed since THE BREATH OF LIFE's inception, and the flame of passion continues to burn bright. Since 1985, the Belgian band delivers a riveting performance, blending captivating melodies, enchanting ethereal voices and a unique sound blend of cold wave, gothic rock and post punk. Next to that I can also say that they are really worth it seeing on stage and got better with the day (also in matter of speaking about recording in the studio).
The band members are more than musicians; they are alchemists, weaving together diverse influences into a distinctive musical tapestry. Anno 2024, THE BREATH OF LIFE are Isabelle Dekeyser (vocals), Philippe Mauroy (guitar, drums programming), Giovanni Bortolin (violin, keyboards) and Didier Czepczyk (bass). As they embark on their 11th album, THE BREATH OF LIFE stands at the threshold of a new chapter. The fusion of seasoned veterans and fresh perspectives promises a musical journey that transcends time and captivates audiences anew. The band's resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to their craft affirm their status as pioneers in the Darkwave genre.
In 2023, the band joined forces with the newly minted Spleen+ division of the Belgian Alfa Matrix label. Their inaugural release, the EP "Down We Go" is a testament to the band's enduring creativity and relevance.
Ahead of the upcoming album drop, join us in an electrifying celebration of artistic evolution! We're diving deep into THE BREATH OF LIFE's remarkable 39-year journey, traversing 40 carefully selected songs. This sonic odyssey spans their extensive repertoire, featuring rare gems and unreleased material that unveils the band's evolution—from the raw energy of early demo tapes to the cutting-edge sound of their most recent digital single and a mind-bending DAVID BOWIE cover (Ashes To Ashes) thrown into the mix. Get ready for a musical adventure that transcends time and showcases THE BREATH OF LIFE's incredible evolution!
Each song reveals THE BREATH OF LIFE's evolving sound style, carving their unique identity while paying homage to influences like SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES, KILLING JOKE, NEW ORDER, FAD GADGET, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, THE CURE, LENE LOVICH, DEPECHE MODE, COCTEAU TWINS, THE CRANES, DEAD CAN DANCE, and more.
THE BREATH OF LIFE's legacy is set to evolve, carrying with it the echoes of a rich history and the promise of an exciting future. The band's ability to navigate changing landscapes and reinvent themselves ensures that their music will continue to resonate for years to come.
Get ready for an incredible journey with the release of this stellar anthology! Not only does it feature the latest single "Down We Go" with its mind-blowing official video clip, but the Bandcamp version comes packed with a treasure trove - a 40-page booklet. Dive into exclusive band photos and gain insights into THE BREATH OF LIFE's unique artistic odyssey. It's not just an anthology; it's an immersive experience!
Enjoy these echoes of time…
First song is a demo with the title: Your Tears. The beginning very much sounds like gothic rock on fire (with a synth in the background). Isabelle Dekeyser’s voice sounds much like SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES. I like the screaming backings (heating up the song). With this song they already make from the very beginning a stand and shout out: here we are! I also adore her horror minded screaming towards the end.
The Finger starts with a spoken word from an old movie and slowly build up. Despite being a demo tape the global sound is really good and reminds me again of SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES with a more commercial touch.
Innocent has a nice bass guitar and lead guitar whilst the synth heads up with a cool clicking sound.
Rest In Peace is the last demo tape and rocks off from the start. The synth sounds a bit funny anno 2024, but remember: it’s an old demo from 1987.
The Highly Deep Cliff is the first studio song, but you can hear the band is still working on their own sound. I also hear Isabelle Dekeyser’s voice is not always 100% tuned. I would describe the song as a poppy wave song. It’s also a very sweet and warm song. This song from 1987 was sadly never released and I’m happy it is now!
Strange Ways rocks nicely and here we hear for the first time Isabelle’s voice going into the direction we know so well for all those years. The music is nice with a good rocking sound and a perfect final blast! Sadly it’s the first time you’ll hear it as this one from 1988 never got released!
Time (live in Prague) is the only live track we’ll hear on this one. For the first time I hear clearly the violin. The sound reminds me of the more modern THE BREATH OF LIFE's sound, but still with a more rocking direction. Apparently it was the closing track of their gig in Prague in 1992.
Nightmare is for me one of their first real hits and still has to be part of a 2024 set. The guitar sound is succulent whilst the drums hit hard and her voice sounds like made of gold! It’s still after all those year a top track!
Misunderstood man has for what I call a The Breath of Life song their typical drum and guitar sound. The vocals are ok, experimenting a bit towards the end.
Factory starts and ends with a ticking clock and sounds in between like a gothic rock song with female vocals on top.
Bad Race starts with a warm guitar sound and has nice lyrics. The drums are nicely hammering, whilst Isabelle’s voice sounds a bit fired up. I also adore the break halfway. This one also closes the 1992 salvo!
Nasty Cloud is their best known song and for some the only song known (a bit like I can’t live in a livingroom from Red Zebra, despite having lot’s of other pearls and diamond in the treasure chest)! Do I still need to review this song for you? The first note’s will strike you, just as the violin and the great tempo, the majestic vocals (high notes included). It’s a classic track and already featured on a lot of compilations. Maybe it’s time to hear this song also on the radio (radio Willy to start with)!? 1994 was clearly a good year for this band!
Shining is another highlight from 1994! Here you clearly hear the violin and the excellent bass guitar! The ethereal touch pops up and her voice goes up and down the ladder as if it’s just a kids game and thus showing off her vocal powers!
Go Away sounds heavier and has a dark mood. It’s one of the more aggressive song on this compilation.
Strings Of Pearls puts the violin upfront whilst we hear again this walk over the vocal chords going high and low in just a few seconds.
Down is one of the songs I still remember from gigs where I see Isabelle doing her clapping with her hands and her typical moves on stage. I like the tempo and the feel of this song too.
Kutna Hora could be inspired by Dead Can Dance and has clearly a mystical and ethereal touch. It’s a 1995 release.
Impromptu is a classic The Breath of Life track: guitar sound, bass guitar, drums, synth, vocals … A heavenly and very beautiful song. Here you will also notice Isabelle could have been singing in an opera.
Noamina is one of the songs from that period that always got stuck on me and that I still cherish. I love the way this song gets build up and worked out. The global sound is simply amazing and this should have been a hit all over the world!
Into The Flames is a soft (mostly) acoustic track with lot’s of passages with high tones on the vocal side. I remember that around that period they also had some acoustic gigs (but my memory might not be working well).
The Last Four Days is a majestic and very fragile song, again one of my favorite tracks from the past. This song will get into your head: clear as clean water where you can see the ground and see what’s in it. It’s a pearl!
Idyll (dark progressive version) sounds a bit like the previous song with the same crystal clear sound and ethereal touch.
Fly is a song that I clearly remember from their gigs: it mixes heavenly voices moments with a faster and harder tempo and thus keeping it very interesting. It’s one of the best songs on this compilation. It’s from 1996, just as the previous song.
Falling Drops takes us to 2000 and goes the same way as the previous track.
The Valley is a classic The Breath of Life track (still from 2000).
Mirror Eyes is from 2005. It’s a soft song, with a nice tempo and enough switches within the sound and drive. It’s also a pearl vocal wise.
The Dark Side makes us jump to 2012 and gives us another sound in the drums and globally seen a much warmer sound (also more filled with tiny details). You can hear clearly that the band made a step forward in the recording studio. I really adore this change (and it will go on if you check the next songs).
A Rainbow Is Fading brings us to a next block as this time dive into the year 2017. Just listen to the start: the guitars! Even the violin sounds a bit different here.
This is what I wrote in my review: “The album starts with A Rainbow is Fading: a cool bass and a guitar that reminds me a bit of Red Hot Chili Pepper, followed by an electronic violin and the heavenly voice of Isabelle. It’s a pretty nice track with lots of variation and o so catchy.”
A New Reality is another step into their newer sound: warm and well worked out! Or like I wrote it in 2017: “A New Reality sounds like a false rocker with some electronics and a good tempo. Towards the end we even get some kind of wall of sound with all the instruments and very appealing vocals.”
Crime Passionnel: I can describe Crime Passionel as a classic The Breath of Life track: it has the typical electronics, guitars and vocal lines I know from so many of their songs I so much love and adore.
Blackout: is more fired up and sounds a bit different from the other songs (even the vocals sound a bit different): it feels like a great but very raw song and literally jumps out of this album (even with a jazzy feel and a Pixies momentum). Once again I feel this will be a great song to perform on stage and might even become a hit if promoted as due.
Hide: Hide has a more electronic sound with now and then aggressive guitars. The music is catchy, warm and dragging you into it (with the help of a singing siren).
Stolen Dreams: “Stolen Dreams goes a bit faster, has a retro touch and sounds pretty catchy (and will be for sure a hit on stage).”
Sparks Around Us: “Title track Sparks Around Us sounds like a classic TBOL track: violin, keyboards, drums, bass, vocals … It’s a very haunting tracks, sending out light into the dark and sand world anno 2020!”
She Is Not Real: “ is one of those typical TBOL dreamy kinda tracks with a retro touch.“ listening back to it in 2024 I can say it’s still an excellent track with a great sound!
The Girl In A Box: “starts with a floating sound and gets taken over by Isabelle’s trembling voice that goes pretty high. I can see her performing this one on stage whilst making her classic moves with her hands and looking up with her eyes and now and then clapping with her hands. I like the deep bass touch. The sliding and ripping guitar towards the end is also pretty cool.”
She Wore A Crown: “The album starts with She Wore A Crown that starts a bit eclectic with a slice of electro and the violin (still played by Giovanni). Once the dust settles down Isabelle Dekeyser takes over and changes it into the best track of the album. Didier’s bass sounds loud and clear, just the way I like it. I feel it even stands a chance on the dancefloor and will be the favorite track of a lot of all-time fans!”
So Low: “ gets lead by the violin and the bass, whilst Isabelle walks over the vocals chords, going high and low.”
Ashes To Ashes (lockdown David Bowie cover): starts with a ticking clock and tickling of violin strings, soon joined by the bass guitar. Isabelle does a great job bringing in her vocals. It’s always hard to coverDavid Bowie, but the band did an absolute great job (the use of the violin is the perfect solution here). I also adore the melancholic touch. As a hugeBowie fan this one gets on my top list of the bestBowiecovers ever!
Down We Go: is the last track and also the most recent one and I must say that this track is climbing on my personal play list (already for a while). I like the bass guitar here, the drums, the tempo … It all works well and you can hear that the band found the perfect drive and seems like launched for another 39 years! On top it’s a very catchy track!
Well if one of the best long term career underground bands from Belgium deserves a spot in the week of Belgium music it’s for sure this one (Front 242 is already worldwide famous, sorry folks and Siglo XX decided to call it a day). They have a long career behind them and improved their sound over the years, got wiser, more experienced and got it all set right! A big thumbs up for this great compilation and for their long and great career!
Some reviews from the past:
SNOOZECONTROL - The Breath of Life – Under The Falling Stars (Wool-E Discs)
SNOOZECONTROL - The Breath of Life – Sparks Around Us (Wool-E Discs)
SNOOZECONTROL - Brand new clip for The Breath of Life: She's Not Real!
SNOOZECONTROL - The Breath of Life launches brand new clip: The Girl in a Box
SNOOZECONTROL - THE BREATH OF LIFE: Cover sessions - Lockdown 2020
SNOOZECONTROL - The Breath of Life - Down We Go EP (Spleen+)
