BROADCAST
"... If Oasis are the sound of indiecentric Radio 1 and Squarepusher
that late-night frequency tussle between a jungle pirate and Jazz FM,
then Broadcast are a rainy afternoon play on Radio 4. Just like that
Radio 4 afternoon session, they have shyly-whispered poetry. Stiff-upper
lips constantly on the verge of giving way. Passions simmering beneath
well-heeled accents. Which is handy. Because the Broadcast dynamic
revolves around understatement and suggestion. That's what makes them
such rare currency at a time when everyone from techno panto dames like
the Prod to jump-up-and-down-until-we're-sick whippersnappers like
Symposium wants to wear their heart on a stadium-sized banner.
And the more finely-tuned they get, the more emotion sneaks through. The
capacity crowd knows all this. That's why they're crammed in front of
the stage, captivated and soaking up every tiny twist in the
Moog-drenched, '60s-fixated grooves and every tiny tremor in Trish
Keenan's voice. They know that when she sings about shopping for
pictures during 'Living Room,' her best Nico-does-Morrissey croon in
full flow, what she's really saying is something along the lines of, "I
loved you, you bastard and now you're gone. If I ever see you again I'm
going to rip your fucking arms off."
And whenever that threatens to engulf the evening in an orgy of furrowed
brows and unexpressed angst, along floats a choice pop moment or two to
help us breathe a collective sigh of relief. 'The Book Lovers' sounds
like Stereolab's lost spy movie theme, 'Accidentals' is as cutely spooky
and 'The World Backwards' swoops elegantly over Mo'Wax grind. All will
stick with you for days. There are no outbreaks of stage-diving and
Zippo lighting but each is greeted with a 500-strong collective grin.
Bitter but sweet, violently but quietly passionate. Tune in now."
Ben Willmott
Thanx to Samir Salim for this one. All help and feedback is very welcome.