Breathing Autumn: Ever Changing Moods.

Breathing Autumn launch their Without Latitude EP at The Healer on Friday night with Caleb James and Bloon.

Local band Breathing Autumn have made an astoundingly evocative EP entitled Without Latitude. On this new recording, vocalist/keyboardist Tahlee Rouillon, her drumming brother Justin, guitarist Andrew Foley and bassist Jono Farrell have created some deeply seductive sonic landscapes, from the gently unfolding ambience of Brittle Bright, to the experimental sound sculpture Light Years, to the near-hymnal peaks that grace closing track Of Guardian Angels. Throughout the EP, these bold, vivid atmospherics are made even sweeter to the ear by Tahlee’s pure, haunting vocals.

Getting set for Friday’s launch of the EP at The Healer, the band gather at a Valley café to chat with me about the experience of bringing this magnificent disc to fruition, including the experience of working with producer and Rhubarb/Leonine member Caleb James.

“We’re all friends with Caleb,” says Andrew.

“And he asked us if he could produce something for us,” adds Tahlee.

“Yeah, we’d all been Battered Fish/Leonine fans for years. Our first gig was at Groundswell 2000 and it all kind of grew from there,” says Justin.

One tactic adopted when recording the EP was to record the drums separately, at the Princess Theatre.

“We just wanted a really roomy, ambient drum sound, and I think by recording the drum tracks there, we really achieved that,” says Justin.

Does this EP mark an evolution in the band’s sound? 

“I think so,” says Tahlee. “We know our own sound a lot more now. I feel we’ve really grown as a unit. There’s more learning involved now, and more of a grasp of how each part of a piece of music fits into the whole, as opposed to just awkwardly playing around with weird noises.”

“It’s very much a family unit,” says Justin of life in Breathing Autumn. “Tahlee and I are brother and sister, and Andrew and Johnno are cousins.”

Tahlee comments, “I think we captured the essence of our live show on the EP, but it also indicates what we could sound like if we had a few extra bits and pieces on stage…”

“….like Caleb’s wicked pedals and organs!” adds Andrew.

Breathing Autumn manage to marry diverse musical tastes among the members with a unified musical vision.

Andrew: “I think one element that links us all together as musicians, is we’re all into slower bands…”

Justin: “….Paradise Motel, Mogwai, you could even say Portishead.”

Tahlee: “I have a Bachelor of Music and I write electronic music as well, so there’s many different musical styles I like to immerse myself in.”

With Justin also well-versed in acid jazz/funk and Jono possessing a classical double bass influence, it appears Breathing Autumn could potentially explore many different musical avenues. They readily admit some of their newer material provides further challenges to their musicianship.

“Some of the new songs go into more instrumental territory,” says Jono.

Justin: “Yeah, one song in particular has really long, instrumental sections.”

Music aside, Without Latitude is quite distinctive lyrically, showing that the group is not afraid to express its spirituality.

“We all have spiritual beliefs and part of those belief systems imbue our lives. Inevitably that comes through in our music,” says Tahlee.

“And everybody in the band is into social justice. In Light Years, there’s this undertone of revolutionary sentiment,” says Justin. “I think we avoid being too in-your-face when it comes to lyrics, but there is an essence of who we are and what we believe in Breathing Autumn’s songs.”

“Amongst ourselves, we all challenge each other, talking about political, environmental, social and spiritual issues and all of this comes into our mind when we write,” Tahlee explains.

But more than any specific social or personal issue, it is the sheer intensity and beauty of the music that makes Breathing Autumn such a powerful band.