Origin Belgium Website the-breath-of-life.com Record label Danse Macabre Records | Years active 1985–present Active from 1985 | |
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Labels Big Bang / Hall of Sermon (fr) / Danse Macabre Records / Members Isabelle Dekeyser
Philippe Mauroy
Didier Czepczyk
Giovanni Bortolin Albums Whispering Fields, Taste of Sorrow, Silver Drops Genres Dark wave, Ethereal wave, Gothic rock Similar Soror Dolorosa, Relatives Menschsein, Collection d'Arnell‑Andréa, The House of Usher, Love Like Blood Profiles | ||
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.
Contents
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 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, 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. Also produced by Martin it contains the title "Nasty Cloud" that became a classic gothic hit. "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. 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.
Albums Everlasting Souls (2005) and Whispering Fields (2012) marked a return to more gothic atmospheres, the abandonment of the drum machine and the arrival of drummer Marc Haerden. The group is then signed by the label Danse Macabre. Benoît Sokay, bassist since the beginning left in 2014. In January 2015 Philippe Mauroy rejoined the band almost 15 years after having left it.
New album is announced for May 2017 and will see the return of Gilles Martin behind the mixing desk.
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.
Live album
Studio albums
Maxi CD
Compilations
The Band
Songs
Nasty CloudTaste of Sorrow · 1994
Mirror EyesEverlasting Souls · 2005
CaliganSilver Drops · 2000