Breathe (CD - 1996)

Additional personnel: Emmylou Harris (vocals); Malcolm Burn (guitar, organ, bass); Buddy Miller (guitar); Ethan Allan (piano); Daryl Johnson (djembe).

Recorded at Darling Harbour Studios, Sydney, Australia from May to June 1996 and Kingsway Studios, New Orleans in June 1996.

Personnel: Emmylou Harris (vocals); Malcolm Burn (guitar, organ); Buddy Miller (guitar); Darryl Johnson (djembe).

Audio Mixers: Malcolm Burn; Trina Shoemaker.

Recording information: Darling Harbour Studios.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Greg Cameron; Dwayne "Bones" Hillman; Jim Moginie; Martin Rotsey; Peter Garrett; Rob Hirst.

Two decades down the road, the Oils' music has grown out of its punk beginnings, but the band's fiery political rhetoric has lost none of its passion. Daniel Lanois protege Malcolm Burn produced BREATHE, and the album finds the Oils staking out new stylistic territory. It was partially recorded in New Orleans, and the spiritual nature of that city seems to have permeated many of the songs. The unforgiving beat of "Sins Of Omission" tells of a future hounded by evil deeds of the past ("pummeled plains, beaten fields"), while the uplifting "Time To Heal" offers hope in the aftermath of adversity. The country-influenced "One Too Many Times" lightens the mood slightly before the rootless sentiment of "Home" (featuring Emmylou Harris on vocals and Buddy Miller on pedal-steel guitar) returns a forlorn sheen to the proceedings. minimize