The Breath of Life (band)

The Breath of Life
Background information
Origin Belgium
Genres Dark wave, ethereal wave, gothic rock
Years active 1985–present
Labels Big Bang / Hall of Sermon / Danse Macabre Records /
Website the-breath-of-life.com
Members Isabelle Dekeyser
Philippe Mauroy
Didier Czepczyk
Giovanni Bortolin

The Breath of Life is a dark wave, ethereal wave and gothic rock band from Belgium. "I guess you can say that The Breath of Life are an institution in the Belgian Goth scene. During decades they were, without any doubt, the sole Belgian band who was able to blend ethereal darkwave, gothrock and post-punk. Or perhaps it is better just to think of The Breath of Life as they created a very personal sound" wrote Peek A Boo magazine in February 2015.[1]

History

The group was born in 1985 in Gembloux when Isabelle Dekeyser (vocals), Philippe Mauroy (guitar) and Benoît Sokay (bass) met up for the first time. In 1990, with the arrival of Giovanni Bortolin (keyboards & violin – ex Jo Lemaire + Flouze), the decision was made to use a Drum machine. With the addition of Patrick Hendrix as permanent manager, the group began to get foothold and refined its musical style. That same year, they won the Verdur Rock[2] contest in Namur and self-produced a 10 tracks tape. In 1991 the band went on tour in Czechoslovakia and again the following year. Their first CD Live in Praha 92 highlights a recording of a concert in Prague.

This first production is followed the same year by the first studio album Painful Insanity recorded by Gilles Martin,[3] cult producer of Coldwave (Minimal Compact, Tuxedomoon, Anna Domino, Colin Newman, Malaria, The Names, ... and in other styles Deus , Miossec or Indochine). 1993 saw the release of Taste of Sorrow which remains for many their iconic album.[4] Also produced by Martin it contains the title "Nasty Cloud" that became a classic gothic hit.[5] "The songs are endearing and energetic, with the bass well forward, nerve guitars, original use of the violin, electronic stormy moods and sometimes lyrical, sometimes angry voices" as describes in the book "Carnets Noirs" in the chapter on the Dark-Wave international scene.[5] In 1995 the band released Lost Children which developed more delicate atmospheres in ethereal wave style. The Group signed with Hall of Sermon for the next album Sweet Party released in 1997. This marks a more pop and electronic turn. In 2000 Silver Drops was released with Martin behind the mixing desk again. The melancholic pop tinged with Trip hop orientation is confirmed. This album was the last one with Martin at production. Shortly after Mauroy left the band and Didier Czepczyk took over on guitars.[6]

Albums Everlasting Souls (2005) and Whispering Fields (2012)[7][8][9] marked a return to more gothic atmospheres, the abandonment of the drum machine and the arrival of drummer Marc Haerden.[10][11] The group is then signed by the label Danse Macabre.[12] Benoît Sokay, bassist since the beginning left in 2014. In January 2015 Philippe Mauroy rejoined the band almost 15 years after having left it.[1]

The Breath of Life has among others played at the Dour Festival (B), Whitby Goth Weekend (GB), M'era Luna Festival (D), Zillo festival (D), Wave-Gotik-Treffen (D), Castle Party Festival (PL),Underworld Camden (GB) ... The group performed in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland.

Discography

Live album

Studio albums

Maxi CD

Compilations

The Band

References

  1. 1 2 Guillemin, Wim (22 February 2015). "The Breath of Life". Peekaboo. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Chevalier, Sylvie (18 June 1991). "Verdur Rock 91". Le Soir (in French). Rossel. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Dagnies, Guy; Dagnies, Bernard (31 December 1994). "Taste of sorrow". Musiczine Lavenir (in French). Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Twilight (1 July 2013). "Taste of Sorrow". Guts of Darkness (in French). Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 Glenadel; Lorentz; Leguay; Steing; Tale (2004). Carnets Noirs [La scène internationale] (in French). K-inite. p. 170. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Goth, Danny (1 June 2003). "The Breath of Life". Sonidobscuro (in Italian). Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Din, Elise (31 October 2012). "Whispering Fields". Side-Line. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  8. ↑ BlackMarquis, Philippe (18 September 2012). "The Breath of Life". Peekaboo. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Hennequin, Emmanuël (20 June 2012). "Un nouveau souffle". Obskur Magazine (in French). Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Van Isacker, Bernard (23 March 2007). "TBOL changes line up". Side-Line. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Tozzy, Frederico (27 July 2005). "Benvenuti nel mondo dei sogni". Kronic (in Italian). Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Van Isacker, Bernard (1 September 2005). "A new Breath". Side-Line. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
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