Music / new releases
New album from ‘Poet laureate of glamorous wastrels’
Tom Robinson called her a 21st century Patti Smith and the NME described her as a Lou Reed/Trent Reznor hybrid.
Now the ‘Poet Laureate of glamorous wastrels’ – according to Clash – has released her third album which promises to not only live up to these critical descriptors, but to exceed expectations.
Emily Breeze’s combination of pop noir, punk attitude, social commentary and tongue-in-cheek lyricism has singled her out to gain recognition from BBC Radio 6 Music, including support from Craig Charles, Huw Edwards and Steve Lamacq.
is needed now More than ever
Emily Breeze, an underground artist who reached prominence with her last album in 2022, has now released three full length records – photo: Marie Dutton
She has previously supported James and Sleaford Mods, as well as performing on Radio 4’s Loose Ends and enjoying a remix by Massive Attack’s Daddy G.
Rats in Paradise, her third album, was released on Friday, its 14 tracks delivering her signature brand of crunchy Blues-rock, upbeat synth-pop and all-out glam.
It includes references to the artist’s influences and inspirations.
The album is named after a song by the Birthday Party, and tracks include references to the Velvet Underground in Yesterday’s Parties as well as cheap corner shop wine, cocaine communists, “greasy hair and heavy metal” and Only Fools and Horses.
“The record feels camp, frothy and mildly ridiculous to me – sort of like a very English version of a Tex Avery cartoon,” Breeze said.
The artist, whose first break came following the release of her song Confessions of an Ageing Party Girl, has also returned to this well-honed theme throughout the album, intoning “I had so much fun that it made me sad” in Fun and lamenting “Sunday night sadness” on We Were Lovers.
It is her attempt to balance “the prosaic life of a party girl with high-minded allusions to the great cosmic dance,” she said.
“The ideal listening situation for Rats in Paradise could be when you have just bet and lost your house and car and kids on a horse and you are lighting up a Hamlet Cigar thinking ahhhhhh fuck it, never mind.”
The record features her regular band of Rob Norbury on guitar, Andy Sutor on drums, Helen Stanley on keys and George Caveney on bass.
It was produced by Breeze with Stew Jackson, part of the Massive Attack circle, and with help from Ryan Rogers of Mumble Tide, and has been released on Sugar Shack Records.
“I consider myself very lucky to work with world class players who are also world class piss takers and a really good laugh,” said Breeze.
Listen to Rats in Paradise at sugarshackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rats-in-paradise
Emily Breeze’s tour begins tomorrow and she will launch the album in Bristol at Strange Brew on September 6: full details at strangebrewbristol.com
Main image: Marie Dutton
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