Warp records' reputation, as the UK's leading exponent of electronic boundary pushing is second to none. From Aphex to Autechre their roster is more often than not responsible for mind bending machine music of the highest order. Even when dipping their toes into other genres the sounds produced are unmistakably at home on the label. The sadly defunct Anti-Pop Consortium's seminal blip-hop excursions found their spiritual home here, as did maverick filmmaker Vincent Gallo.
And the same goes for Broadcast who can loosely be described as Warp's in-house 'pop' band. This second album proper is pure head music of the intellectual variety, and while it works, in part, as a 21st century, cerebral Saint Etienne it often descends into the realms of elaborate aural wallpaper.
Antiquated analogue synths, samples and live drums soundtrack the detached, dreamy vocals of singer Trish Keenan with varying degrees of success. The metronomic mood music of 'Pendulum' is a delight while 'Man Is Not A Bird' with its off-kilter drums and shimmering synths is a light, pleasant confection.
Their affection for French cinematic sounds is apparent on 'Lunch Hour Pops' and 'Before We Begin', and Valerie's blend of acoustic guitar, synthetic swathes and choral vocals is strangely effective.
Much of the rest of the album unfortunately amounts to little more than future elevator music. It's certainly very cleverly composed and constructed but ultimately sounds aloof and impenetrable and, as a result, somewhat devoid of emotion.
'Ominous Cloud' is a little too detached for comfort and Little Bell with its nursery rhyme feel is sickly and twee. 'Distortion' and 'Black Umbrellas' are merely pointless sonic experiments that serve little purpose other than filling time while 'Winter Now' plods along without ever really going anywhere and 'Oh How I Miss You' simply sounds incomplete.
Broadcast have much in common with the Stereolab school of knowing, coffee table pop, albeit with a more askew palette of sounds. The product of intellect over instinct, their music has the power to engage but all too regularly turns its nose up at the listener.
At times soothing and intriguing this album certainly has its moments but when it becomes a little too clever for its own good 'Ha Ha Sound' is no laughing matter.
