Warp records have provided a great national service in housing the clinically insane, just think Aphex Twin. In the musical nutter stakes, Broadcast prove to be no exception to this rule.

The Birmingham trio don’t conform to the traditional techno sound of Warp records, but are closer to the dismembered grooves of label mate Nightmares on Wax. The album gently begins with Trish Keenan’s maternal vocals on ‘Colour Me In’ drawing you into a lullaby induced stupor.

Just as you become settled into the gentle melodies, it all kicks off with the throbbing urgency of ‘Pendulum’. From here on in Broadcast transports you back to swinging 1967 and things start to go the way of the mushroom.

The first half of the album makes for some of the finest psychedelic moments since Pink Floyd’s Syd Barret checked into his padded cell. Broadcast weave memories of long forgotten nursery rhymes with pulsing electronic modernity that will no doubt make this album a future treasure.

The only problem with ‘Ha Ha Sound’ is that it is essentially only half an album and things go awry with three or four of the slightly duller instrumental tracks.

As a piece of music it provides an interesting trip to the often uncharted fairy tale world of sixties psychedelia. Broadcast have as yet gone unnoticed by the public, but I have the sneaking feeling this won’t last for long.

Reviews Index