The famous French cultural arrogance tends to manifest in dance music as a spectacularly casual crème anglaise of synthesisers and rich vocals that kicks in just before things get serious. Breakbot’s sophomore release, Still Waters, is a perfect example, sounding like a Motown Records tribute played through vintage synths on the deck of a yacht. It’s relaxed, to say the least.
During the mid-to-late 2000s, Breakbot founder Thibaut Berland flew from sexy party to sexy party representing the burgeoning Ed Banger Records. As a new decade dawned, Berland began to focus on recreating disco classics, and on Still Waters his long time vocal collaborator Irfane Khane-Acito is acknowledged as half of Breakbot.
The yearning Get Lost is an intensely danceable track featuring well-rounded analogue tones coalescing with a 303 drum machine, and enhanced by Khane-Actico’s intensely desirable vocals. Embedded amongst all the simmering sensuality is an indelible sense of sleazy fun.
Whereas Breakbot’s previous album, By Your Side, lacked a certain je ne sais quoi in its post-electro, angular finish, Still Waters is a well rounded affair that could soundtrack a jammin’ rooftop party in Paris. Meanwhile, the R&B heavy 2Good4Me could aptly soundtrack an afternoon spent sunbathing on the lawns at Château Clerc Milon as one quaffed down a Petit Verdot.
By Dan Watt
