Trish Keenan 1968 – 2011

Since it’s exactly a year to the day that Trish Keenan tragically passed on, I thought it would be nice to roll out a few Broadcast videos to listen to, watch and enjoy.

I have to admit to still not really having come to terms with Trish’s untimely death, on perhaps a purely selfish basis, as Broadcast were at that time my single favourite contemporary band and positively the only one I actively looked forward to releasing albums and touring. They rank very highly among my favourite bands of all time (Top 5, defo) and The Noise Made By People, Haha Sound and Tender Buttons are three of my favourite albums of all-time. Without doubt their summer 2006 performance at Bush Hall in West London is the single greatest gig experience of my life… After it was over, I wasn’t quite sure where I was anymore – that’s how mesmerising they were that night.

By all accounts, Trish Keenan was a quite wonderful person, and Days Are Numbers is heartened to hear that her partner (both in life and music) James Cargill is planning to release a new Broadcast album consisting of material recorded before she passed away.

The first Broadcast song I ever heard (courtesy of the Austin Powers soundtrack!), this is early single ’The Book Lovers’ from an MTV session in 1997.

‘Message From Home’ recorded at the same session. Like ‘The Book Lovers’, this single was released as part of the compilation Work and Non Work.

One of the few official videos Broadcast ever made, ‘Papercuts’ was just one of many outstanding tracks from their fully-fledged debut The Noise Made by People.

From the same album came the single ’Come On Let’s Go’, one of the group’s more poppy and life-affirming moments.

Second album Haha Sound is perhaps Broadcast’s masterpiece. A heady brew of intoxicating, hypnotic music, both tender and hard-edged, lyrically it drew inspiration from films such as the 60s Czech folk-horror cult classic Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, prompting the quite brilliant fan video below.

Haha Sound also boasted one of Broadcast’s most moving ballads ‘Winter Now’. The below performance is from Canadian television.

Simply astounding is this homemade video for ‘Black Cat’. One of the best cuts from the dark, electro-tinged third album Tender Buttons, Trish directed this perfect visual accompaniment herself.

From the same album, a personal favourite of mine, ‘Corporeal’ performed in session.

A similar release to Work and Non Work, 2006′s The Future Crayon rounded up various non-album singles, b-sides and oddities. A mesmerising extended take on ‘Unchanging Window’ – performed below on Jools Holland – is a real highlight.

Also featured on that compilation was ‘Where Youth and Laughter Go’ – recorded here for France’s legendary Black Sessions.

Broadcast’s final release during Trish’s lifetime was the stunning Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age, a collaboration with The Focus Group. You can check out a couple of incredible video clips below.

We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of Broadcast’s Trish Keenan last Friday. Broadcast will always remain a beloved favourite over here at Days Are Numbers and this sad news has still not quite sunk in.  Bob Stanley has written a poignant and touching tribute here and Richard King of Caught By The River writes a heartfelt eulogy here.

We send our thoughts and love to James and Trish’s friends and family. Rest in Peace Trish, you will be missed. x

Broadcast – Elegant Elephant

Hello everyone! A couple of weeks ago I recorded a mix for the wonderful New York internet radio station, Breakthru Radio. I think it went up today on Thompson’s fantastic show Anatomy of A Blogger. Check that out if you want to listen to me talking absolute nonsense about music and stuff. But if, like me, you don’t want to hear me blabbering on how ‘dubstep blew up last year’ (I know, I know), check out the mix in it’s unadulterated form below. Still wanna have a listen? Well, alright then, here you go. Enjoy!

TRACKLISTING

1.    FOUR  TET – OUR BELLS /BROADCAST & THE FOCUS GROUP – SÉANCING SONG

2.    THE FREE POP ELECTRONIC CONCEPT – PISH! PSHAW!

3.    MALACHAI – SHITKICKER

4.    WILD BEASTS – ALL THE KING’S MEN (BANJO OR FREAK OUT REMIX)

5.    BROADCAST – MICROTRONICS NO.6

6.    YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS – CHOCI LONI

7.    CABARET VOLTAIRE – SILENT COMMAND

8.    THE ANDROID SISTERS – LIVIN’ IN THE 50’S

9.    JUNIOR BYRON – DANCE TO THE MUSIC

10.  TO ROCOCO ROT – FORWARDNESS

11.  TUFF LITTLE UNIT – JOIN THE FUTURE

12.  ARTHUR RUSSELL – TREEHOUSE/SCHOOLBELL

Breakthru Radio Mix