Beatin Hearts

"Direen's masterpiece, Beatin Hearts (1983), was recorded in Auckland's Progressive studios with prize money from the 1982 Battle of the Bands in Christchurch. The album is chock-full of smoky beat musings." "The early Builders ... played gritty garage punk that owed a heavy musical debt to the Velvet Underground while addressing more indigenous lyrical concerns." Bill Meyer. "He [Direen] plays fucking brilliantly, throws all his gut feelings, hard-won insights and barbed intellect into these unique songs while the pinball machines and drunken flirtations drown him out" Chris Knox, quoted in 1994. ==Personnel==

;Builders (1982) • Bill Direen – lead, harmony and backing vocals; rhythm and lead guitars; Jansen organ; violin, bass, maracas. • Campbell McLay – bass, lead and rhythm guitars. • Malcolm Grant – drums. • Chris Knox – Organ, harmonising vocals • Mike Dooley – Drums. ==References==