Let me just say this: It’s really, really easy to glide along the sleek contours of Breathers’ polished chrome grooves. It’s thrilling, to be more precise. But allow yourself to sink beneath the sparkling glimmer of the synths and step through the elastic pulse of the bass and drums and you’ll discover a band far more thoughtful and nuanced than might appear at first listen. Indeed, Designed to Break, the trio’s full-length debut, offers many ways to lose yourself—in the extravagance of its delivery, in the complexity of the rhythms, in the depth of the lyrics, in the sumptuousness of its tones.

Breathers - Designed to Break

Too often synthpop feels like an exercise in maximizing aesthetics and surface impact, and while there is much about Designed to Break that is lush and shiny and pretty, there is little about the record that caters to your expectations. There are no true buzz-worthy singles or arena-rattling anthems to be had. What the LP does offer, however, are a bounty of surprises lurking around every corner. If anything, Breathers’ dedication to inventiveness and innovation delivers almost too many captivating left turns. With so many detours flying by, there’s a real sense of missing out. So much so that the record should come with some sort of label or sticker: Rewind is your friend. Or, alternately: Don’t be afraid to mash repeat.

There are immediate highlights here to be sure—the propulsive intensity of “Centralia Road” and the electro-static euphoria of “1-800-PAIN” foremost among them—but the record’s remarkable consistency and constant shapeshifting are part of what makes it so powerful. Songs that seem to drag or descend into an overindulgence of kitsch quickly recover and shift gears, offering new mysteries to unravel and gorgeous vistas to admire.

Despite the inevitable comparisons to ‘80s new wave and synthpop (think New Order or Pet Shop Boys), it’s my understanding that Breathers don’t necessarily take their cues from such music and look elsewhere for inspiration. And that makes sense, really. For all its vibrant hues and gleaming exteriors, the underlying sentiment of Designed to Break is one of modern anxiety and trepidation. It’s synth music twisted and deconstructed to point away from the past and to shed its silver-streaked light on topics like post-modern isolation and the corrupting power of technology. Sure, you can dance to it, surrender yourself to its rapturous movements, but know that bit of dread lurking in the pit of your stomach isn’t going to go away soon.

It may seem counterintuitive to label music so rooted in a past era as forward-thinking, but that’s what makes Breathers so vital. Their songs never take you where you think they will, which means every journey is unexpected and alive with possibility. It also means Designed to Break is a record that demands and rewards repeated listens—no small feat in a culture that puts so much stock in comfort and easy consumption. So go ahead and strap in. Ride the rails or dive deep. But above all, make sure to get lost.

Breathers will celebrate the release of Designed to Break tomorrow, Sept. 22, at 529 alongside Video Age, Celia Verbeck, and Shouldies. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 DOS. 21+ to enter.

More Info
Bandcamp: breathers.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @breathersmusic
Instagram: @breathers.biz
SoundCloud: @breathers
Twitter: @BreathersATL