TEARS IN THE TYPING POLL: ILM Artist Poll #114 - BROADCAST (Results Thread)

I wouldn't say this is too low, exactly, #15 seems about right, but I had expected it to place higher.

Some of "The Be Colony" is sampled too. That repeating bassy clunk is roughly hewn from a Piero Umiliani soundtrack, from memory.

I like "Papercuts". But didn't assist it. Maybe I had some strategic omission thing going on!

"papercuts" is the best, sweet and sinister

my #10 or thereabouts

I added all the rest of my Broadcast live stuff to the Dropbox folder, there are a couple of really nice radio recordings in there (Amsterdam in particular) and one very listenable audience recording from the 2009 tour (Montreal)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uwgy0ssya4gizht/AADAnEVGnNxjONweJc1Eukv3a?dl=0

I had Papercuts at… #15! :ghost:

cheers Maresn3st!

https://i.imgur.com/CaN8ZRB.jpg

14. I Found The F
From Tender Buttons, 2005
Fan-made video by Myra Orgain on YouTube (heavy strobe effects here)
377 Points, 16 Votes, 1 First Place Vote

That 2009 recording is crisp and intriguing so far. Thanks again Maresn3st!

https://i.imgur.com/rQKY7MJ.jpg

13. Corporeal
From Tender Buttons, 2005
Fan-made video by Wonder Muddle on YouTube
405 Points, 17 Votes, 2 First Place Votes

Corporeal manages to be both incredibly unassuming and completely thrilling - technopolis, Oct 25, 2019

I continue to be delighted by it. "Corporeal" especially (Trish duets with a collapsing building to luscious effect) - Alex in Sheffield Aug 1, 2005

Corporeal only at 13? That's surprisingly low. It was my No. 2 pick, and nearly my No. 1 - big shout out to the two first-place voters.

songs i have played on a loop for god knows how long

^Every time. "Corporeal" was my #1. I would describe it as "mathematically perfect"

https://i.imgur.com/vLCxdZp.jpg

12. Message From Home
From The Book Lovers EP, 1996, Compiled on Work And Non Work, 1997.
Fan-made video by Donbecker5 on YouTube
412 Points, 18 Votes

Papercuts was my no.2 and Corporeal my no.1 - both TOO LOW obviously but also glad that they made it this high.

Corporeal pretty much became my favourite Broadcast track the first time I heard it and it's stuck ever since. It's so narrow somehow and way less demonstrative than the clattery swirls of the previous album but it's a fizzy pulse of purest pop and I have never got even slightly bored of it. (both listed quotes above are from me, 14 years apart - thanks CaAL!)

First heard Papercuts on John Peel and was dazzled by the fact that they were now releasing massively robust pop singles with a solid verse/chorus 1/chorus 2 construction which I don't think they really did much of again after this. Maybe also because of the video, it feels like they were fully snapped into focus and present here in a way that they shied away from afterwards - it's a dynamic, exhilarating (chart-ineligible) hit.

The next track had a very odd journey through the polling period, it generally moved around the top six, was at number three for a while, and only slipped out of the top ten when the last three voters awarded it a total of zero points.

https://i.imgur.com/05FqNx8.jpg

11. Where Youth and Laughter Go
From Extended Play, 2000. Compiled on The Future Crayon, 2006.
Fan-made video by Wonder Muddle on YouTube
413 Points, 20 Votes

This was my number 4, just such a perfect song, amazing that it was hidden away on an EP.

Anyway, what do people think the top ten will look like?

Two voters indicated that the interlude that it's attached to on the EP (but not The Future Crayon) was a significant factor in their vote.

This is actually the real winner lol! Secretly the most popular track on Extended Play (all of which has now placed), appearing on ballot after ballot after ballot (until it didn't, as CaAL noted). I mean, who knew?

voted highly for this one, and kudos to the youtube creator who managed to make the creepiest broadcast vid yet!

On to the top ten then! Here's a track with the opposite journey to WY&LG - it hovered around the top 30, then the top 20, then finally broke into the top ten with the last few ballots.

https://i.imgur.com/M71KR7I.jpg

10. Man Is Not A Bird
From Haha Sound, 2003
Audio at YouTube
Bonus beat: Drum cover by Roddy Bailey
436 Points, 18 Votes, 1 First Place Vote

'Man Is Not A Bird' echoes 'Pendulum' rhythmically but the vocals are less urgent, more sullen and melancholic - just as haunting overall - stevem (blueski), Aug 14, 2003

didn't realize this one was such a fan favorite, but glad it is. my #6. kind of the ur-broadcast song imo, the one i think of first when i think of the broadcast sound.

this was my #1, I love the drums and echoey bell effects

What a gorgeous song, so deeply melancholy. Broadcast weren't really a "groove" band, but that one is an exception; the beat seems to nod to both James Brown's "Cold Sweat" and the outro to "Strawberry Fields Forever."

Finding the video for the next one yielded a quote I just had to share.

https://i.imgur.com/ImDMvjv.jpg

9. Black Cat
From Tender Buttons, 2005
Trish Keenan directed version of Black Cat on Youtube*
437 Points, 17 Votes, 3 First Place Votes

* "A little backstory for fans of this song... Trish, who I was friends with for many years, used to come to my house during the day when I was out at work to write songs. My cat, Corky, is very shy, and at first he would just poke his head round the door of the room where she was sitting, and then run away. As the day went on, curiosity would overcome him and he would finally try and make friends with her. Hence, the lyrics of the chorus. We filmed some of the vid at my house and I appear in the vid for about 2 seconds. What a thrill and an honour for me and Corky xxx" - ellenmeilee on youtube

My #1, I find the abrasive vertiginous synth and guitar so unsettling, the vocal so serene and detached, every second a pure thrill. And somehow their most “pop” moment.

Man Is Not a Bird my #4 and yes I want to listen to the beat forever like I want to listen to Corporeal forever. I admire their concision, each track as long as it needs to be & no indulgence or fat; but fuck I would have liked them to knock out one or two hypnotic 20 minute epics in the studio.

i don't know if it's still the case, but i remember appreciating that the Black Cat bar/club in Washington DC had Tender Buttons on their jukebox.

Other thoughts - I find Colour Me In nearer disturbing or uncomfortable than mawkish - like a few of their other tracks you look at it one way, it's sweet, you walk round and squint and there's something unsettling. The passivity/greyness until the addressee starts on or colludes in colouring, the slippery way it both seems a love-metaphor and a monologue by a sketchbook page or abstract idea or as-yet-unlistened-to album… the voice holds it together perfectly, never feels an either/or to me. Also, I hate everything that sounds a bit like circus music and yet I love this (and lunch hour pops) so I don't know how the hell they managed that.

Until Then was my Number 1 pick. So strange and pretty. I actually thought Corporeal would take this poll. I've been off all along I think. Papercuts also very high in my poll. Great stuff. Bring on more surprises I guess!

XXXXXXP - I love that YT comment on the Black Cat video

Yeah, my assumptions were off too - I thought Michael a Grammar was surely top 5 - maybe their clearest pop moment & how can anyone resist "come on - your father was a teddy boy'? So no clue here but enjoying everything.

I just love picturing her sitting there writing songs and this black cat nervously approaching her, and her making up this song to sing to it.

https://i.imgur.com/gJCRyMM.jpg

8. Tears In The Typing Pool
From Tender Buttons, 2005
Fan-made video by Wonder Muddle on YouTube
445 Points, 19 Votes, 1 First Place Vote

Love stereolab but not sure anything they’ve done is as resonant as something like tears in the typing pool for me - mind how you go (Ross), Jun 21, 2018

josh az (2011nostalgia) at 12:34 3 Jun 22
Top 20 gonna be nothing but straight up classics
Tears in the Typing Pool top 3 let’s gooooo

absolutely love black cat, and the youtube story makes it even better

voted for 'tears' in my ranked section too

During this 2-3 month obsession I've been playing a lot of Broadcast in the house, & Tears… is the one track that's got a 'who's this?' from each of my stepkids as they've caught it. Seems to have special power over the non- or not-yet-fans.

The Mellotron is gorgeous

https://i.imgur.com/aSDUZB7.jpg

7. Before We Begin
From Haha Sound, 2003
Fan-made video by Narcissus Weeps on YouTube
466 Points, 20 Votes

Dear Warp, please release Broadcast's 'Before We Begin' as a single. Actually it's too late now it would've been a perfect September release and I have a video idea in my head and everything. Dammit. - stevem (blueski), Nov 3, 2003

This is the most amazing song and I regret not making it my number one.

It all has happened, is happening and will happen.

damn missed so much of the rollout - had to make Black Cat my #1, I've probably played it more than anything else

I blame this thread for my insomnia last night. I woke up with the synth line from "Goodbye Girls" playing over and over in my mind. Was up for hours!!!

"Before We Begin" a perfect song, though they do have at least ten perfect songs.

Tears in the Typing Pool is surely the #1 broadcast song title. (and top 10 of all time)

https://i.imgur.com/5Xnv90p.jpg

6. The Book Lovers
From The Book Lovers EP, 1996, Compiled on Work And Non Work, 1997.
Fan-made video by Karl Taul on YouTube
506 Points, 21 Votes, 1 First Place Vote

The Book Lovers is still the one for me. I just realised it's almost exactly 20 years since I first heard it on the John Peel show. Incredible song - Kitchen Person, Dec 7, 2016

8. Tears In The Typing Pool
From Tender Buttons, 2005

If I'm counting right, this will be the highest-rated Tender Buttons track. (Pretty sure everything else has already placed besides "Minus 3".) Interesting that 7 other tracks placed higher though TB was the top-rated overall album.