"Alex is a pure musical genius. He brings the 'Snap' to Snap Live." - Glynn Washington, Host/Executive Producer of NPR's Snap Judgment Live If you've seen Pixar's Academy Award-winning movie, BRAVE, you've heard two of Alex's songs: "Touch the Sky" and "Into the Open Air", both sung by Julie Fowlis, and featuring Mandel's distinctive acoustic guitar. Mandel's first solo album features the second collaboration between Fowlis and Mandel -- "The Road." Other tracks in this vein include "City and the Bay," featuring whistle and fiddle from Irish folk musician (and member of Mark Knopfler's band) John McCusker, "A Town Called Love," and the "Touch the Sky" inspired opener, "Way to Go." These tracks recall Mandel's last project, The Echo Falls, which landed him the Pixar songwriting job. If you've seen or heard NPR's Snap Judgment live shows, you've heard Mandel playing electric guitar and keyboards, accompanied by percussionist David Brandt (who guests on several tracks) and Tim Frick. Others may have heard Mandel's lush string score for East Side Sushi, the award winning indie film. Mandel's musical tastes are promiscuous, and this album includes forays into modern rock ("Happy", "Helping Hand"), 70s Brazilian pop ("Domino"), and even a slow jam ("Take it Slow"). It all hangs together on the thread of the lyrics, a journey from optimism, to despair, to sexual obsession, to something like wisdom...before the whole cycle starts again. "As Long As You Breathe" is a concept album of sorts, and those who get their hands on the physical CD get a gorgeous package, by designer Jason Munn, which includes a full-color 18 panel fold out poster with lyrics so they can follow the journey. But the music itself provides a unique musical journey, one that reflects a lifetime spent in music.