Customer Reviews

Pendulum

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This single is worth getting because it has five exclusive tracks that won't appear on an album. They've retained the good things about their unique sound, but sound a bit more lively and less lost in a muddled, dreamlike melancholy like on 'The Noise Made by People', although they're still inscrutable and arty.

She sings on 3 of the 6 tracks. Her voice is refreshing because she doesn't do the overblown, show-off vocal gymnastics that R&B singers are so fond of.

All of the tracks are good except the last one which is more of an experimental glitch track.

Broadcast's "Pendulum" isn't just a good intro to the full-length album "Haha Sound," it's a nice chunk of Broadcast's unique indie-rock/fuzz-electrojazz in itself. With one album track and five new others, this is a must-have for anyone interested in Broadcast.

"Pendulum" is the only song that is actually from "Haha Sound," a steady drum line backed by a shimmering, slightly fuzzy backdrop. Then it shifts into different turf with shivery ballads (the wavery "Small Song IV") and offbeat indie rock (the brash "One Hour Empire," tensely bouncy "Violent Playground"). The EP rounds off with a curious experimental song, full of what sounds like phone bells and beeps underwater, which then shifts to a slow, uneasy melody, like something you'd hear in a haunted house.

The sound of Broadcast has clearly changed somewhat in this EP. It's a bit noisier, somewhat more experimental. The bass and percussion are a lot stronger, giving a rockier feel to the music. And the final track "Minus Two" is a tuneless, eerie stretch of sound and wavering ooh-ahh vocals that may not appeal to a lot of listeners.

The drums are the strongest musical element, and they make a nice counterpoint to the eerie electronic flourishes and bass riffs. Trish Keenan's vocals are well suited to the music, high and soft and a little singsongy. The problem is that they tend to be mixed down too low, so that the music seems to overwhelm them.

This EP is a satisfying musical experience, and a nice taste of the offbeat indie-rock that Broadcast does well. The "Pendulum" swings both ways!

Broadcast has always been a little more avant-garde than the average chanteuse-plus-electronics outfit; they're like the crazy old aunt that the Stereolab family keeps shut up in the attic. What's not so well known is that they rock live. I saw them at the Bowery Ballroom three years ago and was surprised to hear how much of a kick they brought to the songs from their 2000 album "The Noise Made By People". With their new "Pendulum" EP the band appears to be moving towards incorporating the more aggressive sound of their live performances into their studio work. The electronics are noisier, the drums and the bass more prominent, the production roughed-up. At times they still recall 60's Pink Floyd, only now the sound is closer to the Syd Barret-led Floyd, instead of the "Ummagumma"-isms of "Noise". My only criticism is that Trish Keenan's vocals are a little too far down in the mix. The three pop songs are mostly excellent, and the musique-concrete experiments manage to be engaging without overstaying their welcome. In short, a fine return after a long absence.

Broadcast have become underground stars, making a career of acid psychedelia, 1960s soundtrack drug finger paint, and more straight new wave sounds.

Pendulum is only an EP--Broadcast have at least three or four--but is a great taste of what makes them great. There are New Wave/Doors structured tracks, out and out smear keyboard abstraction, space drums, and tone bursts that tip hat to both electronic classical of the 1950s and early Zappa/Mothers sound pockets.

This clocks in around a half hour, but this is well sequenced, intense and extremely concentrated in its aural dose. You can get longer pieces by Broadcast, and absolutely should get all the albums, but among these, Pendulum is one of the best.

I like the more muscular sound on this release! Even the last experimental instrumental track has a hypnotic, cohesive beauty.

I put this CD in the mix with Dirty Vegas' debut CD and they ran seamlessly together! Trance meets your crazy aunt's music-box compositions!

On their Pendulum EP, Broadcast seems to cram in all the ideas that didn't fit onto Ha Ha Sound. "One Hour Empire," is a compressed, intense instrumental workout that doesn't really go anywhere. "Still Feels Like Tears" is traditional Broadcast, but with added feedback, while "Violent Playground" puts us back where "One Hour Empire" left off. Most of the tracks seem unfinished and the EP as a whole keeps you wanting more.

The EP starts out with the song "Pendulum." Amazing song. It's relaxing to know that they have not gone astray from their musical style. I don't know how much they have grown, but it really doesn't matter though. The other real highlight is "Still Feels Like Tears." These two really hold the EP down. The rest of the songs kinda float by. The only other song that has vocals is "Small Song IV" which is a shame, because her voice is great. The 3 remaining instrumentals are all ok - they are more on the experimental side. All in all, i would say this EP is very similar in set-up as their previous EP - "Extended Play Two," except that Extended Play Two is better.

The 6 song EP is only 2 seconds shy of 20 minutes, But still definitely worth the buy for Pendulum and Still Feels Like Tears.

Pendulum finds itself parading through a variety of musical styles on the smokey free jazz style of "one hour empire" and a more daring leap into scattered tones of "violent playground" and "minus two" yet still holding onto what is rightfully theirs.
From the upbeat,yet distant tone of "small song 4" and "Pendulum", to the vaporous slink of "still feels like tears" Trish Kennans octave haunts you with such beauty....melodic,on key and as she purs and whispers while Stevens,Felton and Cargill add that trademark sound of 60's melody and timing to the modern day pops,clicks and elecro fuzz that makes this collective so unique.
A gem to have,watching as they progress is sheer beauty...tune into the Broadcast....a clear and inviting signal for all to hear.

Broadcast has added a ham-fisted macho drummer, who proceeds to
obliterate any of the mysterious subtleties this once great band
possessed. What were they thinking? Were they thinking??? The
music on this disc is as ugly as the cover art. Makes me
appreciate St. Etienne even more.