Broadcast was a band that I almost chose for my second ever selection in Music Togetherness. I can't remember exactly why I steered away from them and chose Animal Collective instead, but I regretted it when I read the news a week and a half ago saying that the face and voice of the band, Trish Keenan, had passed away due to complications from pneumonia caused by contracting the H1N1 flu. I wish that I could have introduced this great band to you all while they were still in existence, but I instantly knew that I had to pick them for this week.Broadcast is a band that was formed in Birmingham, England in the mid 1990's. The band's sound is basically an updated, more high-tech version of the early electronic music that was being made in the 1960's by bands like The United States of America. The band's signature sound is extremely spacey, and listening to them is almost like what I would think an acid trip might be like. I can just imagine beautiful colors changing and shifting in and out of focus to the music, all while a beautiful voice is holding me to the ground. While Trish Keenan may not have possessed one of the most technically brilliant voices around, there was just a sweetness there that perfectly fit the hazy vibe of the sounds floating around her.
I love each of the band's three studio albums almost equally, so I had trouble making my mind up on which one I actually wanted to present to you this week. I figured that I'd introduce you with the same album that brought me into their world, with their debut The Noise Made By People. However, if you enjoy this album at all, I strongly suggest listening to the band's other two albums, Haha Sound (2003) and Tender Buttons (2005). If you're still clamoring for more 60's influenced, psychedelic electronica, the band Stereolab has been making a fairly similar brand of music since the early 1990's, and have many albums available, my favorite of which is entitled Emperor Tomato Ketchup (1996).
The Album: Noise Made By People (2000, Warp Records)
I've also included my favorite song by the band, "America's Boy", off of the album Tender Buttons, and R.I.P. to one of my favorite vocalists of all time.
This album reminds me of two other groups. The best equation I can come up with is Shiny Toy Guns + Broadcast = Mew. I like Mew and Shiny Toy guns, and don’t dislike Broadcast, but can’t think of a situation where I would be in the mood for Broadcast. Unless of course I decide to take up acid.
ReplyDeleteEvery track reminds me of the opening music to the Daniel Craig Bond films. Upon reviewing their Wikipedia page, I do see they were used in one of the Austin Powers films, so that is probably where I came up with that conclusion. As far as what I am hearing, David said it best in that Trish has a sweetness in her voice and the atmosphere created is simply described as ‘psychedelic’.
The album itself is very consistent from track to track and every song honestly produces the exact same reaction out of me. My guess is this is what they are going for, but from the very first minute, I am put into some sort of trance and am not let go until the end. As a result, I find it very difficult to comment on any specific tracks. The one track which did strike me was ‘You can Fall’. The bells and what sounds like a screeching gate are very creepy. If I had to pick what I consider to be other standouts, I would go with ‘Long was the Year’ and ‘Come On Let’s Go’. The low points are right in the middle with ‘Tower of our Tuning’ and ‘Papercuts’.
Again, I think this album certainly achieves what it was meant to do which speaks volumes to the group’s talents. Just not sure when I would be in the mood for it outside of within 28 days later.
And also, very sorry for you losing one of your favorite artists. I lost one recently in Hawthorne Heights’ Casey Calvert and it is so strange how even though I have never met them, I feel like I lost a significant person in my life. I guess that is the beauty of music.
I thought I had heard Broadcast before, and for some reason I was thinking they had a much more harsh sound than the sweet one I listened to this week – obviously, I was off base before. By contrast, I really enjoyed everything I heard – from the psychedelic instrumentation to Trish’s modestly sweet voice, it was all good. For me, a good singer doesn’t need a voice that can hit every note with incredible range – all she needs is to sound real and sincere, and believable for the type of music she’s singing. In that respect, they sound kind of like Beach House for me, except less… beach-y. Some of the psychedelic feel reminded me of the Flaming Lips, only instead of Wayne Coyne’s sometimes jarring vocals over top, it’s something a whole lot smoother.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I noticed was the detail in the instrumentation – I could hear the little bits and pieces that must have originally attracted David to this music and had a similar effect on me. As the tracklist played on, I enjoyed the groove I fell into. Thomas is right that many of these songs have a similar feel to them, but a feel for me that never seemed to get old. I can see this being very productive music for me at work. A lot of this music has a great vintage feel, which I fully appreciate.
My top tracks included “Unchanging Window” (for its Spring-y feel on this cold winter’s day), “Minus One” (which would feel at home on a soundtrack for “The Shining”), “Papercuts” (for the contrast and the big band sound worked into parts) and “Until Then” (which slows things down a bit and its haunting instrumentals). There wasn’t really a track that I didn’t like. I will most definitely check out some of their other stuff.
Sorry about the news David. It is sad when someone so talented is lost early in their lives, but I am glad we got to take the opportunity to listen to this band more closely this past week.
Being cooped up in the house, watching mother-nature spit ice and snow on us for the next 24 hours, makes listening to Broadcast a seemingly perfect choice. The thick smoke of Trish’s vocals paired-up with the slightly updated 60’s psych-rock sound, helps me to slip into a musical coma while daydreaming of warmer days and sunshine.
ReplyDeleteI love Thomas’ Bond movie soundtrack comparisons because I get that feeling almost instantaneously on the first track of “Noise Made By People”. Trish is a throwback to Shirley Bassey who sang many memorable songs for the movie franchise. I really enjoyed the instrumental tracks like “Minus One” that drug me into an atmospheric sci-fi thriller and at times a psychological suspense drama. Broadcast excels at creating ambiance, Trish is the Pied Piper leading us around with her celestial voice. “Echo’s Answer” finds inspiration from another gone-to-soon female vocalist, Karen Carpenter; the glitchy electronics and sweeping sound of the track once again has an effect of grabbing me and pulling me down like quicksand. The Doors and Jefferson Airplane are underlying influences musically for the group; their use of keyboards and the marching drums on “Papercuts” and “Look Outside” have me listening for Jim Morrison or Grace Slick on vocals, but Trish is equally as nice.
I wouldn’t say this music is sad or depressing; along with any other music that’s worth a damn, it is meant to stir emotion and heighten our senses. This was a beautiful album to listen to, there was certainly a nostalgia harkening back to the 60’s, but their sparse use of electronics definitely gave it a more updated and unique sound.
Sorry it has taken me so long to do my write up. It seems like each day this week that I was going to sit down and do it I would get sidetracked or was in a bad mood. Nevertheless this was definitely a unique pick and I felt it deserved a good write up.
ReplyDeleteNot to sound like a broken record but I wholeheartedly agree with Thomas and Justin with the James Bond reference. It reminds me of all the James Bond movie intros and their psychedelic feel. This track in itself makes it very hard for me to believe that this album didn’t come out in the 60’s. Trish’s voice suits this style of music perfectly, with its tender subtlety and carefree feel. The next track sticks with the same overall feeling and I am definitely in a very entranced state. This is the kind of music I think of when I think of “chill” music. “Minus One” is basically just an instrumental track, and without Trish’s voice I find it doesn’t draw me in as much. “Echo’s Answer” is the most current sounding track yet. I am not sure if it is the use of all the different electronic sounds with the strings, but this definitely has a more sophisticated sound. “Papercuts” takes on a more upbeat pace, incorporating more drum, and all around unique sounds to it. I think overall I prefer the slower paced songs, that really seem to put me in a more relaxed state. Other tracks that really stuck out for me are “Until Then,” and “Come on Let’s go.” The only tracks that I really didn’t get that into were the instrumental tracks, but even those did a good job of keeping me in a psychedelic trance.
I think this was another great and unique band that I am sure I would never have heard of if not for our blog. It’s a shame that there will be no future albums from the band, but they definitely left their unique mark on the music industry.