Emily Breeze is back, and has shared details of her new album Rats in Paradise out on the 11th of July. They describe it as “a joy-ridden masterpiece of, danceable, laugh-out-loud synth-pop pathos, sparkling with brittle witticisms.”
She has also shared a snarling new single called ‘Fun’. It puts a foot on your neck as our nihilistic heroine mocks her own tendency to always put pleasure before business above a shronky beat and feral guitar growls, sneaking in a pre-chorus ‘your mum’ gag for the ages. Its visceral urgency and mocking addictive sound reminds one of early Birthday Party or Yeah Yeah Yeahs, given an inimitable spin by Breeze and her whip smart band!
“The lyric is just really dumb and fun, and every word is true – especially the bit about your mum,” says Emily.
The title “RATS IN PARADISE” is from a song by one of my favourite bands, The Birthday Party,” says Bristol artist Emily. “I always loved that idea – imagine rats with top hats and canes, dancing in the gutter and having the time of their lives. Very suitable for my songs.
“The record feels camp, frothy and mildly ridiculous to me – sort of like a very English version of a Tex Avery cartoon.”
‘Dating A Model’ marries a gorgeous melody with a savagely funny pen-portrait of an idealised partner, served with a side of weapons-grade sass and supporting cast of jealous lovers and cocaine communists.
“Vulgar as leopard print / cheap as confetti”’ is just one stand-out line among dozens on this, a wistful slow-burner referencing everything from Sinatra to cheap corner-shop wine and Only Fools And Horses.
“I had also wanted to shoehorn Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses’ immortal line ‘This time next year, we’ll be millionaires’ into a song for a while, so that made it into the chorus,” explains Emily. “I was thinking about FairyTale of New York, with those characters who have that sort of tragic delusional hope that I find so romantic and relatable.”
As ever, Emily Breeze is at her brilliant best balancing the prosaic life of a party girl with high-minded allusions to the great cosmic dance.
“The ideal listening situation for Rats in Paradise could be when you have just bet and lost your house and car and kids on a horse and you are lighting up a Hamlet Cigar thinking ahhhhhh fuck it, never mind.”
And has these fine words to say about her band: “Rob Norbury, Andy Sutor, Helen Stanley and George Caveney are amazing. I play rhythm guitar and all the beautiful arrangement parts on the songs are by them apart from ‘Forever Money’ which was me and Stew Jackson (producer) and the reworking of ‘We Were Lovers’ which is Ryan Rodgers from Mumble Tide and Stew.
“I consider myself very lucky to work with world class players who are also world class piss takers and a really good laugh.”
TOUR DATES
12th July
Newport – Lepub
Support Oswald Slain
18th July
London – Paper Dress Vintage
Support 1 – Where We Sleep
Support 2 – Oswald Slain
19th July
Brighton ALPHABET
Support 1 – Suzie Stapleton
Support 2 – Oswald – Slain
14th Aug
Brit Bar – Weston Super Mare
Support – Lilac Sundae
15th Aug
JT SOAR – Nottingham
Support Oswald Slain
6th Sept
Strange Brew Bristol
Support TBA
Emily Breeze is one of the UK’s leading underground/cult artists. Known for her distinct brand of pop noir which combines a punk attitude, powerful performance and a dark sense of humor. She saw National recognition in 2022 when singles ‘Confessions Of An Ageing Party Girl’ and ‘Ordinary Life‘ were championed by BBC Radio 6 which resulted in being playlisted and a feature interview with Craig Charles. Album Rapture saw a sold out Bristol album launch, a UK tour, support slots for James and Sleaford Mods, a performance on Radio 4’s Loose Ends with Cive Anderson and a remix from Daddy G (Massive Attack).
Follow up E.P Second Rodeo (2024) received the prestigious PRS Women Make Music fund and was featured on round table with Huw Stephens alongside support from Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins, Tom Robinson and Amy Lame (BBCR6) followed by another UK tour and a collaboration with Rat Scabies (The Damned).
