Appropriately naming themselves after the French New Wave classic
from Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless are effortlessly cool, fashionably
dark, hopelessly melancholic and frustratingly off-center romantics.
Often lumped together with bands like The Sound and Comsat Angels,
Breathless have more in common with the mid to late '80s wandering
output of The Cure, The Cocteau Twins and other artists stretching the
post punk dream pop template, thanks to the strength of their
arrangements and shifting time signatures, along with one of the
greatest vocalists to ever step foot in the genre. Ari Neufeld knew a
unique talent when she saw it and quickly drafted Dominic Appleton in to
her current band due to his inventive keyboard skills. The two
immediately found that they had a strong songwriting bond that far
outstripped the rest of the group. Folding in guitarist Gary Mundy, with
whom Appleton had been in previous projects, including their marvelous
work backing Anne Clark on her debut album, the trio set out on a new
path, with Appleton crucially taking command of the vocal duties. Linked
to labels like 4AD, but with a strong sense of independence and a
reluctance to tour endlessly, Breathless would self release their entire
catalogue on their Tenor Vossa label. Certainly, the band had the
charisma needed for stardom, along with the songwriting skills, but
their output would remain on the margins, beloved by those in the know.
Originally released on the band's Tenor Vossa label in 1986.