CDPlus Review July, 2000

Singer-songwriter-guitar player Bryan Potvin of The Northern Pikes will release his solo debut, Heartbreakthrough, July 18. The first single from this Universal Music release is “Read Between The Lines”.  CLICK HERE to download an EXCLUSIVE flash movie with a FREE audio sample!
 
The six album Pikes catalogue has sold in excess of 500,000 units internationally, including three gold records and the multi-platinum selling Snow In June.  Potvin himself provided the group with several radio hits including: “Hopes Go Astray”,  “Dream Away”, “Believe” and The Pikes top 5 radio smash “She Ain’t Pretty”.  Various Potvin compositions continue to get national airplay. Between 1994 and 1998, Bryan was employed by Mercury Records Canada.  During this time he also dabbled in soundtrack work, with such credits as co-writing the theme to the internationally acclaimed television show Due South.
 
Potvin experienced some very big changes in his life in 1994. The band that he had been in for ten years, an all-consuming vocation, would go on indefinite hiatus and he would begin 'civilian' employment. 

Also, his five year marriage would dissolve. With these changes he began to neglect some creative habits.  Songwriting and playing guitar would become distant memory. 

In 1996 Bryan met songwriter -producer David Baxter and was invited to join a songwritingworkshop.  By luck of the draw Baxter and Potvin were paired up. They wrote “Heaven Is What You Leave Behind” and Potvin was hooked again.  From that beginning he began to secretly plan a recording, It was continually on his mind. 

He certainly had topic to work with and knew very early that Heartbreakthrough’s songs would be about change.

Heartbreakthrough was produced by Terry Brown (Rush, Cutting Crew, Blue Rodeo & Moist) with contributions from nationally recognized musicians including Joel Anderson (Jim Cuddy), Sarah Slean, Reed Shimozawa (Zuckerbaby) and James Gray (Blue Rodeo).   Potvin says the following about Heartbreakthrough’s producer.  “Although I thought I was fairly well versed at making records, Terry would raise the bar with this recording. The vocals would prove to be a real challenge but his endless patience and encouragement would leave us with a lush, full-bodied sound that I had envisioned for this album from its inception. Terry is truly one of this country's great pop/rock producers. "
 
Heartbreakthrough’s lyrical subject matter of transition is also very apparent in the albums varied moods. 

Tunes such as “Read Between The Lines” and “Too Late” are vintage Potvin, straight up pop songs.  The rhythmic nature of “Heaven Is What You Leave Behind” reveals a more relaxed and melancholy side.  Potvin also delves into some, as he states “scary and vulnerable territory” with the vocally challenging “Heartbreakthrough” and the lush epic “Darling, You Live In A Dream World”.  It seems the change has done him good.  “I didn't make music for the better part of four years and not only was there a sizeable void in my life but it seemed that everything was pushing me in that direction again. I was a professional musician my entire adult life. All I ever wanted to do was make music. That or be Bobby Orr but by the age of 14 it didn't look like that was going to pan out.”