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broadcast, "pendulum"

Warp
It's been over two years since we last heard from Broadcast, butthey've finally graced us with a new 6-song EP, to be followed laterthis year by their second full-length album. Pendulum,which will have to tide fans over until then, is a formidable taster ofthings to come. The overall aesthetic is similar to that of theirprevious work: moody psychedelia sweetened by Trish Keenan's airy,hypnotic vocals. What's different is an evolution of the band's use ofpercussion and synthesizers. The title track shows a definite expansionon the sometimes trippy, sometimes icy melodic themes found on theirlast album. Even on minimal tracks like "Small Song IV" and "StillFeels Like Tears," the complex, yet adeptly handled drum rustles andangular patches of synths leap out amongst the atmospheric "aaahaaaah"s. "One Hour Empire" sounds as if it were culled from thejazz-tinged score of a 1970s crime film. Pendulum is an exciting step forward for Broadcast, and is a sure sign of a promising follow-up to The Noise Made By People.

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