I, like so many others, originally came to Broadcast via their lil' sister relationship with Stereolab. When I first heard them, my indie hipster cronies were offering positive yet somewhat tepid views of the group based on their first true stateside release, the small single/EP collection Work and Non-Work. With the sounds being similar to the 'Lab and even the type of release mirroring the Switched On series of comps, the buzz was dampened for this new band right out of the gate (imitators, not originators y'see), and unfortunately, this sentiment at least partially persists to this day.
To hopefully shake this unwarranted drag on a great band, it is perfervidly with adulation that I proclaim that Broadcast are one of the most bold, daring, and ultimately wonderful purveyors of rock music, both steeped in its great traditions and blazing trails for the future. This new comp, Future Crayon, a collection of singles, EP tracks, and other rarities in the time from 1999 to present, illustrates my point magnificently. "Illumination" opens the album with a stealthy knockout of angelic bliss pop. The gorgeously fuzzy guitar makes a perfect nest for Trish Keenan's dulcet vocal melody ”” a dizzyingly beatific blessing to kick things off.
But to suggest that this somehow sets the tone for the rest of the affair would be frankly irresponsible, for even on their most cohesive outings, Broadcast are restless explorers of musical textures and terrains. Five tracks in, "One Hour Empire" offers a quick shot of skronky jazz fusion anchored by Steve Perkins' flawless drumming. "Daves Dream" aptly conveys the sense that it could be the soundtrack for some sort of delirious reverie with its largely instrumental mélange of sounds spinning about, shifting, and changing direction seemingly upon the whims of the subconscious. And still, "Minus Two" brings a cut-up electronic piece to the table, making the band's relationship with Warp seem all the more harmonious.
Broadcast simply cannot be pigeonholed, and their sound is their own through and through. Sure, they share some influences with their pals running the Duophonic label, but their more consistently eclectic and adventurous nature sets them apart ”” quite a feat considering the 'Lab's own penchant for pushing boundaries. For interested uninitiateds, Future Crayon should be a no-brainer. It's a great introduction to the wide range that Broadcast works with, and it holds together as well as any of their albums. For those already converted, while many of the tracks will be familiar from EPs and singles, the rarities alone are worth the price of admission. May there be enough material for another one in the very near future.
1. Illumination
2. Still Feels Like Tears
3. Small Song IV
4. Where Youth and Laughter Go
5. One Hour Empire
6. Distant Call
7. Poem of Dead Song
8. Hammer Without a Master
9. Locusts
10. Chord Simple
11. Daves Dream
12. DDL
13. Test Area
14. Unchanging Window/Chord Simple
15. Man for Atlantis
16. Minus Two
17. Violent Playground
18. Belly Dance
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