It doesn’t take long for Broadcast 2000‘s self-titled debut album to inspire a lingering sense in the back of your mind that you’ve heard this before, somewhere. For this much, you can be forgiven, because you probably have. The London folkies may not have been particularly prolific with their recorded material, but they’ve certainly been canny in marketing what they’ve got. ‘Get Up And Go’, a cute if somewhat sullen tune, was notably used in a recent E.on advert, standing out as one of those tracks you hear on TV and tell yourself you’ll Google later.
This recognisability persists throughout, since Broadcast 2000 can boast that, adverts aside, their songs have featured in everything from movie trailers (Yes Man) to soaps (Hollyoaks – don’t cringe, it’s not their fault) to charity campaigns (Christian Aid’s ‘Poverty Over’ drive).
Opening track ‘Rouse Your Bones’ is a particularly rousing little number; with a glockenspiel intro and staccato violins reminiscent of Sigur Ros, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the male harmony vocals are a little less than perfect. The rest of the album continues in this uplifting niche, a series of beautiful tracks that seem strangely happy despite the bleakness of their titles. ‘That Sinking Feeling’ is a prime culprit here, upbeat vocals and soaring string accompaniment all but negating the title.
The jaunty sound of well-played instruments succeeds in outweighing the feeling that singer Joe Steer wasn’t exactly born to sing. That said, it’s not hard to see why so many companies have chosen Broadcast 2000 to promote their causes; these are melodious songs that strike the perfect equilibrium of morose and merry. Broadcast 2000 won’t change your life, but as a genial indie-folk soundtrack to keep spirits up while you’re doing your household chores it’s perfect.
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