Broadcast were an experimental pop band from Birmingham, England. Formed in 1995 by Creator Couple Patricia 'Trish' Keenan and James Cargill, the band fused Dream Pop with influence from psychedelia and electronic music from The '60s, and anchored by Keenan's dispassionate, sing-songy vocals. Their music immediately drew comparisons to fellow retrofuturists Stereolab (who released some of Broadcast's early singles through their label Duophonic), though they quickly forged their own identity.
The band signed with Warp Records in 1997, who compiled their early releases as Work and Non Work to much acclaim. However, it would be a while till their official debut The Noise Made by People (which was hindered by a troubled production) hit the stores in 2000.
Although Broadcast formed as a traditional five-piece, by their third album Tender Buttons the band had reduced to just Keenan and Cargill, which allowed them to step away from pop songs and push their sound into more experimental territory, collaborating with The Focus Group (the musical project of visual artist Julian House, who designed all their sleeves), and getting increasingly into soundtrack work.
Sadly, the band's career was cut short when Trish passed away 2011 due to complications from pnuemonia, but their legacy and influence has continued to grow in recent years.
Discography
Studio Albums- The Noise Made By People (2000)
- Haha Sound (2003)
- Tender Buttons (2005)
Compilations
- Work and Non Work (1997)
- The Future Crayon (2006)
Other Releases
- Microtronics Volume 1: Stereo Recorded Music for Links and Bridges (2003, tour EP)
- Microtronics Volume 2: Stereo Recorded Music for Links and Bridges (2005, tour EP)
- Broadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age (2009, collaboration)
- Mother Is the Milky Way (2009, tour EP)
- Berberian Sound Studio (2013, soundtrack)
The tropes made by people:
- Iconic Outfit: Trish is almost always seen wearing a white tunic in press shots and concerts.
- Miniscule Rocking:
- On their studio albums and compilations: "Minus 3" (0:47), "Black Umbrellas" (1:08), "Oh How I Miss You" (1:17), "You and Me in Time" (1:25), "Misc" (1:34), "One Hour Empire" (1:42), "Bit 35" (1:49), "Distorsion" (2:02), "Violent Playground" (2:11), "Tears in the Typing Pool" (2:12)
- On their other releases: both Microphonics releases have no tracks above 2:07, and the longest track on the Berberian Sound Studio soundtrack (apart from "Our Darkest Sabbath" and "Teresa, Lark of Ascension," which are both three minutes) is 1:37. Mother Is the Milky Way has "Growing Backwards" (0:20), "Creation Day the Travel Future Way" (0:34), "Innocence in Orbit" (0:38), "Never Trust a Rusty Bolt" (0:42), and "Through the Gates of Yesterday" (0:44). Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age has "Intro/Magnetic Tales" (0:39), "A Quiet Moment" (0:58), "What I Saw" (1:03), and "How Do You Get Along Sir?" (1:11)
- New Sound Album: Tender Buttons was a departure from the blissful psych-pop of their earlier work, favouring a rawer, stripped-back and overtly electronic sound with drum machines in place of actual live drums.
- One-Woman Song: "Valerie."
- One-Word Title: "Accidentals," "Corporeal," "Distorsion," "Hawk," "Illumination," "Locusts," "Minim," "Papercuts," "Pendulum," "Phantom," "Treatise," "Valerie."
- Randomly Reversed Letters: "Tender" is written backwards on the Tender Buttons album cover.
- Title Track: Tender Buttons has one.
