Jonathan Bree’s third solo album, Sleepwalking was released in June 2018 via the artist / producer’s own label, Lil’ Chief Records. It saw the emergence of the mysterious masked band. They first appeared in his music video for ‘Weird Hardcore’ (from second album A Little Night Music) but who suddenly caught everyone’s attention with Jonathan’s self-directed music video for the release of ‘You’re So Cool’.
Like his previous two albums, Sleepwalking has a heavy orchestrated element featuring real strings, celeste and soprano vocals, but on Sleepwalking Jonathan’s darker utilities of pop music take these sounds to an eerie and more unsettling landscape.
Watch the official video for ‘You’re So Cool’ below.
Sleepwalking features a number of duets with other musicians notably Chelsea Nikkel (Princess Chelsea) and Clara Viñals (Renaldo & Clara) in Bree’s more Gainsbourg inspired pop songs. The album sees Jonathan successfully dip in and out of the avant-garde on ‘You’re So Cool’, ‘Boombox Serenade’ and ‘Plucking Petals’ and effectively walk the line between knowing pop music and well… the just plain weird on ‘Static’ and ‘Sleepwalking’.
Fresh off the back of an extensive tour of the U.K, Europe and Korea, the November Sleepwalking tour will see “The Master of Misery” perform in New Zealand for the first time since 2017s’ Others Way Festival. Joined by his faceless band, audiences will get the chance to hear album singles ‘Fuck It’ which topped the 95bFM charts in June 2018, ‘You’re So Cool’ – Time Out New Yorks, best music video of 2017 as well as ‘ Valentine’ and ‘Say You Love Me Too’.
“Sleepwalking is a record of sublime and sophisticated classic pop that conspires to lead you, willingly, into its dark night… You won’t want to wake from this beautiful nightmare” – NZ Herald
“…Jonathan Bree has chosen a darker path, scattered with minor keys, darkly intoned, gloomy lyrics, and music as sparse and intricate as the Brunettes’ music was stuffed full of light…. Refined and classy — with no sweat or blood spilled, but plenty of hearts bruised and broken — the record is a subtle and sophisticated listen made by a master craftsman whose beating heart is laid bare for all to see just below the glossy surfaces.” – AllMusic.com
“listening to his new album is like imagining the masked artist sneaking up behind you and whispering his sophisticated pop tunes into your ear – it’s gently hypnotic and ever so slightly disquieting.” – undertheradar.co.nz
“Doubts, disappointment, despair and dejection. They’re all there, but wrapped up in such an ironically gorgeous package, you’d hardly know it.” – Radio NZ National
JONATHAN BREE ONLINE
lilchiefrecords.com/
facebook.com/jonathanbree666/
twitter.com/lilchiefrecords
