Altsounds - Broken Records

Despite the suggestion of the name, this really doesn't sound anything like a Broken Record. In fact, it sounds like the result of an underground experiment like if The Cure had been fed into one end of that big arse Hadron Collider thing in tobleone land and in the other end we inserted Conor Oberst, ready 3-2-1 power on and smash we get Broken Records out the other end... now that's a worthwhile experiment never mind ears on mouses.

Edinburgh's Broken Records have been causing something of a little storm this year with a steady stream of delightful little releases that all have a yearning vocal placed over a twinkly sound scape. With 'Lies' we get some kind of 18th century courtyard music spliced with Robert Smith aka vocalist Jamie in full on disjointed lover mode wailing 'Kiss Me, Kiss Me' whilst an accordion (yes they are still in effect) is given a thrashing as if it's some kind of elongated pant-wetting 80's guitar solo.

There is a lot to admire here. There is an adventurousness to this band, a willingness to not worry about overloading tracks with instrumentation, and the great thing is keeping the vocal in the forefront and using it to great effect. 'Lies' is sweeping and yet full of subtlety. Even in the building crescendo there is still room to really over blow it but Broken Records just don't need to be that band, they delight just as they are.

http://www.myspace.com/brokenrecordsedinburgh