New Stuff: Broadcast

 

New Stuff: Broadcast

 

New Stuff: Broadcast

 

New Stuff: Broadcast

 

New Stuff: Broadcast

Released last Friday.

Songs in the key of my life: Broadcast - Black Cat

On MySpace I had a pal, Nayfo (real name: Ugo), a higly talented musician in London, with whom I discussed music a lot. Unfortunately, I haven't heard from him for quite a while. He once recommended the band Broadcast (actually a duo, James Cargill and Trish Keenan), who created very innovative electronic pop music and were known for their perfectionism in the studio. I checked them out, of course, and instantly fell in love with 'Black Cat', a title from their album 'Tender Buttons'. It is a lovely simple and catchy (and quirky) tune ('curiouser and curiouse') and pops up in my head every so often. Naturally I got all their albums and was never disappounted. Broadcast were not just an obscure band known by insiders. Their last album 'Broadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age' was announced best album of the year 2009 by the music magazine The Wire (in my opinion the best music mag there is). It's doubtful, though, that there will be more music under the band name. Tragically, lead singer Trish Keenan died of the swine flu on 14 January 2011 at the age of 42. 'Black Cat' has become their swan song to me, the line 'Awkwardness happening to someone you love' can bring tears to my eyes.

Broadcast

Broadcast are an electronic music band, based in the Kings Heath part of Birmingham, England. Original members were Trish Keenan (vocals), Roj Stevens (keyboards), Tim Felton (guitar) and James Cargill (bass). Various drummers have played with the band, including Keith York, Phil Jenkins, Jeremy Barnes, Steve Perkins, and Neil Bullock. As of 2005, the group consisted of Keenan and Cargill, with Felton having departed to form a new project, Seeland, with Billy Bainbridge, formerly of another Birmingham Warp act Plone.
The band's style is a mixture of electronic sounds and Keenan's 1960s-influenced vocals. It is heavily influenced by the 1960s American psychedelic group The United States of America, using many of the same electronic effects. It is also reminiscent of Stereolab. However, despite the similar musical pedigree, Broadcast's music often has a darker, edgier sound – with amorphous samples and analogue dissonance giving it a retro-futuristic sci-fi edge.



You can't pretend cause I can see
You're not the boy you used to be
Trust me with a secret you can't keep

I watch your eyes they shift with doubt
So every night when stars come out
I try to read your personality

The writing for pleasure you wouldn't let me read
The things you miss out when you try to mislead
You said you wrote a page about me
In your diary

Your heart a place that noone sees
You can't disguise your own unease
Trust me with a secret you can't keep

The writing for pleasure you wouldn't let me read
The things you miss out when you try to mislead
You said you wrote a page about me
In your diary

Don't be so afraid
Theres bound to be a place
No matter who or where you are
You've got to be willing
You've got to be willing

The writing for pleasure you wouldn't let me read
The things you miss out when you try to mislead
You said you wrote a page about me
In your diary

Don't be so afraid
You're bound to make mistakes
No matter who or where you are
You've got to be willing

Don't be so afraid
Theres bound to be a place
No matter who or where you are
You've got to be willing
You've got to be willing

New stuff

A Song a Day

Broadcast - Black Cat

A few years ago a MySpace friend recommended the band Broadcast to me, I checked them out, bought several albums and am now eternally hooked to this beautiful song...



Sapphire her burning eyes
Model euphonic paradigms
Awkwardness happening to someone you love
Awkwardness happening to someone you love
The black cat the black cat
Curiouser and curiouser
The black cat the black cat
Curiouser and curiouser

Shadowing masonic verve
Follows the pharaoh and the worm
Awkwardness happening to someone you love
Awkwardness happening to someone you love
The black cat the black cat
Curiouser and curiouser
The black cat the black cat
Curiouser and curiouser

Mirror mirror on the wall
Into the purring night you call
Awkwardness happening to someone you love
Awkwardness happening to someone you love
The black cat the black cat
Curiouser and curiouser
The black cat the black cat
Curiouser and curiouser

Awkwardness happening
Awkwardness happening