Album Review: The Break - Space Farm

Brian Richie's passion for all things Buddhist ensures this second outing from The Break begins (and ends) in an appropriately spiritual manner, courtesy the chanting of The Gyuto Monks of Tibet. For those only coming into the story with this release, The Break is three parts Midnight Oil – guitarists Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey, and drummer Rob Hirst – one part Violent Femmes in bass player Richie, and now, a new partner in crime, former Hunters & Collectors trumpeter Jack Howard, who brings to the original mix of surf guitars, “space” rock and Ennio Morricone Spaghetti Western soundtracks a touch of the Mariachi meets Herb Alpert.

And if you think that last reference might seem a little odd, how about inviting Englebert Humperdinck to add his voice to their version of his B-side chestnut, Ten Guitars, from 1967? Yup, alongside Tibetan monks, twangy Dick Dale-meets-The Atlantics surf guitars (though their take is much more laid back) and the inventor of the Theramin, The Break dig the big balladeers of the '60s. And why not? After all, two songs later comes a piece called Tumbling For Eons Through Turbid Atoms, which, without the frenetic “free jazz” noodling of Howard, would be a pleasant stroll through a pop melody.

And so it goes – as Kurt Vonnegut famously had it in Slaughterhouse 5 – alternately gentle and majestic, curious confections soundtracking movies that might have been and would certainly fill those cinemas committed to the B-movie glory days. You can just see the credits roll through the appropriately titled Majestic Kelp, a truly magnificent piece. So, what you've got are cinematic, spaghetti, surf, space rock instrumentals. Just close your eyes and enjoy where your mind might take you. The final poem's a bit scary though, so be prepared to mind-screen Alien!