Extended Play Two [UK]

• Artist: Broadcast
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 02, 2000
• Type: Extended Play (EP)
• Genre: Electronica

Review

Extended Play Two is not Broadcast's strongest release; it really contains only two tracks that are worthwhile ("Illumination" and "Poem of Dead Song"). The exclusive "Illumination" is a haunted, droning song that brings to mind My Bloody Valentine, but only if My Bloody Valentine turned off every distortion effect in their arsenal except those for the guitars. The vocals are pretty and lilting, suggesting a peaceful, romantic interlude in a spy film. The other exclusive, worthwhile song is "Poem of Dead Song." While it's rather unfocused, or maybe just experimentally arranged, it is effectively creepy and actually quite fun. It's a welcome, unpolished gem in Broadcast's recent output. "Unchanging Window/Chord Simple" is an extended (for no good reason) version of one of the highlights of The Noise Made by People, where it's simply called "Unchanging Window." The song is full of tension and dynamically astounding, but this extended version seems to simply tack on a repetitive, longer ending. The album version is more powerful, because it quits while it's ahead; the "Chord Simple" segment doesn't go anywhere interesting. "A Man for Atlantis" and "Drums on Fire" are both instrumental pieces. Neither one really amounts to much. "A Man for Atlantis" is more of a dub experiment than a true song; it shows the band experimenting with new sounds that don't really work in their overall picture. Anyone just joining Broadcast after picking up The Noise Made by People will be a bit disappointed with "Drums on Fire," as the song bears little relation to the textures with which the band usually operates. The title of "Drums on Fire" is quite apt, though it may have been better titled "Goofy Drums," because it's mostly just a percussion workout, sounding as much like dueling lawnmowers as a song. It's moody but pointless. Extended Play Two is not Broadcast's finest hour, especially after the stunning highs of The Noise Made by People. It would be hard to recommend this release to anyone other than a Broadcast completist. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Papercuts (Lyrics)	Broadcast	Broadcast	(4:31)
Belly Dance	Broadcast	Broadcast	(4:44)
Where Youth and Laughter Go (Lyrics)	Broadcast	Broadcast	(4:32)
Daves Dream	Broadcast	Broadcast	(4:00)

Credits

Broadcast (Producer), House (Photography), Broadcast (Mixing), House (Artwork)