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Ghost Canyon

Title - Strange Shores: Old Singles & New Hits
Artist - The Breakers

The Breakers, a Surf / Psychedelic / Garage / Punk combo from the Chicago area, are back on the scene with Strange Shores: Old Singles & New Hits.

There’s no shortage of fun times on Strange Shores. Released following 2021’s Torch Light, Strange Shores is a must hear CD that collects orphan cuts, several new songs, remixes, singles and compilation tracks.

The 2022 core lineup of The Breakers features lead guitarist Jim Abrahams, Marc Lockett (drums, percussion) and Jayson Slater (bass guitar). Torch Light was a masterful album of beguiling instrumentals and likewise, Strange Shores is equally enjoyable. A few songs incorporate some of the band’s musical buddies, particularly Dan Klapman and Gary Kretchmer on horns.

1. Crystal Pistol (2:46)
2. Rotation (4:03)
3. Steppin’ Porpoise (4:08)
4. Escalation (2:28)
5. Tubular Bells (2:37)
6. Point Conception (2:18)
7. Vodka Sonic (Techno Tonic) (6:30)
8. The Moldau (Reprise) (4:30)
9. O’ Holy Night (3:14)
10. Icicle Park (3:54)
11. Don’t Go Into The Woods (Twilight Version) (4:11)
12. Strange Shores (2:07)

This brilliantly alive and abundantly rhythmic new collective album opens on the virtually riotous Crystal Pistol and the quietly melodic Rotation, before bringing the levels down on the tongue in cheek humor balladry of Steppin’ Porpoise (an obvious cover of (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone), the mid-tempo pomp of the aptly-named Escalation and then comes the foot-tapping melodies of their dubious rendition of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells and the languishing Point Conception.

Next up is the frenetic Vodka Sonic (Techno Tonic) and the mellow psych, brass twirl of The Moldau (Reprise), a beautiful O’ Holy Night, the album rounding out on the rhythmic Icicle Park, an all-embracing Don’t Go Into The Woods (Twilight Version), closing on a reverb-infused, layered psych mix within the titular Strange Shores.

Listeners that followed the band’s previous albums including Torch Light, A Date With Destiny and 2020’s Voodoo Treatment will dig Strange Shores, even as the album moves beyond the tried and true surf-rock sound.

Highlights are limitless especially the title track, “Strange Shores” with its eerie shroud of tremolo guitar sounds that morphs into a neoclassical melody line that then reverts back to the intro theme, and the CD-opener “Crystal Pistol” with its hit and run melody, while for surf-purists “Rotation”, with its Dick Dale-inspired sound, sets the scene. A Breakers cover of Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” moves in unexpected directions before backing into the prog-friendly vision of the original. “Point Conception” blasts out of your speakers with ferocity while “Icicle Park”, with sonic transcendence, borders on psychedelic surf for the 2020’s.

Strange Shores features eye-popping CD cover art that adds luster to a most impressive album release. With something old, something new, something borrowed and something, well strange! Strange Shores is clearly essential listening for surf-rock fans young & old.

The Breakers - Vodka Sonic (Techno Tonic) - The Breakers (Official Video)

Official Purchase Link

The Breakers @ Facebook

The Breakers @ Bandcamp





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