Lovebreakers – Primary Colours

Lovebreakers were supposed to be supporting Social Distortion last July, of course we all know what happened just a few months ahead of the planned tour, a tour that was rescheduled for this year and is now, hopefully, finally going to take place in July 2022. Whilst catching Lovebreakers live isn’t looking likely in the immediate future, their freshly released new album, Primary Colours, gives you some sense of what you might have missed out on for two Summers on the bounce.

There are many who may have raised an eyebrow when the Lovebreakers were handpicked to support Social Distortion, by none other than their iconic frontman Mike Ness, but give the album time and you just might be gently seduced by their charms. Rather than the expected punk ‘n roll soundtrack you might have expected you encounter something that is more akin to the noisier side of the UK indie scene. Primary Colours is an album that has more in common with the likes of The Libertines and The Vaccines than it does with the punk rock veterans they will, eventually, share a stage with next year.

From the opening hit of Eye Roller to the final chords of the closing title track you are immediately struck by a sense of familiarity, Primary Colours is an unexpected throwback to the effervescent high points of the ‘Cool Britannia‘ era when indie bands dominated the UK’s musical landscape in the late 90’s. Whilst the polished soundtrack washes over you in a not unpleasant manner, it fails to leave any lasting impression, there is no urge to rewind to a highpoint, although the stamping Family Man comes close, but on the flip side there is nothing that makes you scrabble for the controls to skip a track either. This is slick anthemic heartfelt indie rock, if you have any love for the more polished side of the indie punk scene, or you have fond memories the indie days of yore then Lovebreakers should be on your radar.

Primary Colours is released today and can be purchased via Bandcamp, the album is also available on ‘cream with turquoise and bright green splatter’ vinyl via Wiretap Records