Grand Prix: Broken Heartbreakers: White Swan
Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 1:37 pm

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Grand Prix, The Broken Heartbreakers, White Swan
Friday June 9th
Dogs Bollix
$10 – door at 8.30pm

Grand Prix released their album “The Way of the Racer” late in 2005 to excellent reviews (see below) and their live show has been described variously as being “kick ass” (Real Groove) and “the thing that stands out most about Grand Prix is the Mariachi-style trumpet blasts that evoked a Mexican-melancholy, which soon had me mesmerized....it prompted me to pull out my copy of last years “The Way of the Racer” album for a re-visit and re-enjoyment” (Rip It Up)

The Broken Heartbreakers will be performing with the full six piece band, playing their open-landscape country inflected songs. The line-up includes the golden vocal tones of Rachel Bailey and accomplished songwriting of John Howell, as well as violin, piano, guitars, and an ace rhythm section. Over the last couple of years the Broken Heartbreaks have developed a very dedicated and solid live following. Look out for the new Broken Heartbreakers album in the coming months.

White Swan/Black Swan are the stripped back wide-screen songs of Sonya Waters and Ben Howe from Fang (and other past musical endeavors)...on this occasion they have very special guest Ricky McShane (the Broken Heartbreakers) on drums. White Swan/Black Swan are currently working on some recordings that may surface sometime before the end of the year

GRAND PRIX – The Way of the Racer REVIEWS (Out Nov 14th 2005)

NZ HERALD – Scott Kara (4/5 Stars)
A love of country music, racing cars and the trumpet makes for an unlikely, yet riveting, combination for Grand Prix. Put it this way, if you love the Ennio Morricone soundtrack to the classic Western, The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1966) doing doughnuts, and racing cars, then this is for you. Although the band admit car racing is a metaphor for life, rather than being petrol heads. Grand Prix have hints of late period HLAH, another Wellington band who touched on a more docile, country sound before they split up. But GP started out as a country band and take a far more stern and steely approach, something that has a lot to do with Andrew McKenzie’s voice, which is a cross between Nick Cave and Kiwi country icon, John Hore Grenell. And Viv Treweek’s trumpet, with it’s dramatic flutters and souring serenades, makes Grand Prix’s sound unusually original. Stand out track racing on the Surface of the Moon, with it’s slide guitar and punchy, “Oh my baby, oh my darling” break down, is a very sexy country song indeed. Let’s go racing.

AIR NEW ZEALAND MAGAZINE
The Wellington bands second album, featuring nowt but racing-car themed songs, can best be described as if it were created the day Marty Robbins met Nick Cave, south of the border. Inspired.

REAL GROOVE - Phil Reed (4/5 Stars)
I never thought I'd say these words about a 'country' album, but this is a great album. Not that Grand Prix are all that country, actually more and oil-soaked rag of a band but genres being genres. The Way of the Racer is the debut for the Wellington quartet who have forged a reputation in these parts as a kick-ass live band with their high-decibel mariachi-influenced rockabilly. What really sets this album apart is that it's laden with character - the sneering, snarling vocals of singer songwriter Andrew McKenzie ride a steed of menacing riffs powered by a hungry rhythm section. Lest we forget the mournful trumpet of Viv Treweek that gives each track a crazy murderous intent. Think of a an Ennio Morricone spaghetti-western soundtrack on Acid and you're halfway there.

Don't get too attached to the cowboys and indjuns imagery, for this is an album that pays homage to car racing - forming a metaphorical base for McKenzie's delightfully searching lyrics. The standouts include the eponymous Way of the Racer, a full throttle wheel-spin of a track to begin the album, the new single 'Racing on the Surface of the Moon', 'Sea of Cars' and 'Rookie' - but these merely inch above what is a solid foot stomping' anthems. Above all else, though, is that this album is damn good fun to listen to, a rarity in the serious rock'n'roll world these days.

DOMINION POST - Lindsay Davis (4/5 Stars)
Wellington act Grand Prix follow up their debut [racing lines] with an expanded line up, a slicker sound and, most importantly, plenty of racing car inspired tracks about hi-revving drama. Sounding like a Kiwi Los Lobos, trumpeter Viv Treweek has injected a huge Tex-Mex flavor into the album which guitarist/singer Andrew Mckenzie has picked up on to accentuate his own style. From the rocking mariachi of the opener 'The Way of the Racer' to the Nashville flavors on 'Eternity Behind the Wheel' and the campfire reflection of 'What Kind of Man is He', which recalls the Long Ryders, to the rocking salsa of 'Vigilante', this will keep racing fans happy and ensure the local alt country scene a roaring future.

NZ MUSICIAN – Kent Walsdorf
Grand Prix have evolved into a grounded and intelligent music entity with this release. A new band line up introduces trumpet, drums and bass, which provides a rich and full sonic experience while drawing upon some Mexican-flavoured elements adds a distinct edge to the otherwise country genre they happily ride in. The album is guitar driven. Interesting intervallic shapes and catchy as hell riff based playing couple with a supporting rhythm section encompassing a ‘do what is needed’ attitude. While this would have been a successful combination on their own, it is the trumpet melodies and harmonies working sensibly with the guitar that is the sweetener in their coffee. The lyrical content is based upon the concept of Formula One racing but only in a metaphoric sense, open to interpretation but communicating universally with the listener. An applaudable feat from a songwriting perspective. With musical interest and lyrical allure it’s well worth getting.

RE: Grand Prix: Broken Heartbreakers: White Swan
Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 12:41 am

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