'Broken Records' Celtic Connections 2011

 

Broken Records played at the Old Fruitmarket as part of 'Celtic Connections 2011', along with the Burns Unit ( an 8-piece Canadian and Scottish folk/rock band formed over a song writing week in a cottage up north for Burnsong). 

They are a tight and accomplished unit. Not many bands command the stage and Jamie, along with his brother, often appear lost in their rocky yet Celtic-tinged sounds: Rory's violin adds an eerie haunting air. Their music moves from intimate piano (the Promise) to charged violin and drums rhythms (new single A darkness Rises Up). Jamie finished their set with the song 'Nearly Home' with simply his vocal alongside synth keys. Their songs are mystic and explore a variety of emotional themes.

The band were originally formed by brothers Jamie (Lead Vocals) and Rory (fiddle, accordion) Sutherland.  I have heard this band before - and noticed then their musicianship alongside memorable songs and energetic playing, and that Jamie used his vocals as a finely tuned instrument. They have shed the cello and worked on arrangements and their second album sounds more together and balanced. I have heard this band at several venues and the best was in the reverential setting of the Queens Hall Edinburgh, where they blasted through an enthralling set of strong songs in the packed converted church.  

Broken Records are a six-piece indie folk band from Edinburgh Scotland. The band are signed to 4AD and released their debut album, Until the Earth Begins to Part in 2009.  Their second album Let Me Come Home was released in October 2010. They played a well-received set at T in the Park's T Break stage in 2007.  The band attended SxSW Festival in Austin,  Texas in 2010 and their music was featured in the TV dramas "Skins" and "Lost". They have supported The National on part of their European 'High Violet' LP tour.  In May the band completed their second album, Let Me Come Home in October, 2010 with producer Tony Doogan (Mogwai, Delgados, Belle & Sebastian).

Energetic and uplifting sounds. The band tour America and Europe in 2011. 

 

Set List 

1. Leaving Song

2. Modern Worksong

3. Motorcyclce Boy

4. Wolves

5. A Darkness Rises Up

6. A Promise

7. You Know

8. Nearly Home

MUSIC 2010

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Music 2010 has taken some exciting new turns - subtle electronic to retro yet contemporary folk. The genres are blurring more and more and I see this as a positive.

The biggest band of 2010 was Arcade Fire who earned their place at the top end of stadium rock, and their sound reminds me of 70s rock tunes. Their gig Glasgow Barrowlands was one of the top live gigs of all time. 2010 was a year of many great gigs and albums - both large and small scale. Here are some of my thoughts on my own personal views on the biggest sounds of 2010. It is all hard to define now with the complexity of the media - is it about the ticket sales, the album sales, the downloads or the youtube hits...

My favourite new albums anyway, which I hope also represents a slice of the variety of sounds out there. *The biggest Albums - 'Suburbia' by Arcade Fire (indie rock); 'High Violet' The National (indie rock); 'Total Life Forever' the Foals ; ' The XX' won the Mercury with their album 'Crystallized' (Romy has an unforgettable vocal and look - new wave rock); 'I Speak Because I Can' Laura Marling (folk alternative); 'Hill of Thieves' Cara Dillon (folk, released 2009).

Broken Records - Oran Mor 2009

Broken Records are being spoken of as the next big thing. They played packed and popular gigs in Inverness where they picked up a following and also supported Sons and Daughters there.
They draw on influences as diverse as folk legends the Waterboys to Canadian rockers Arcade Fire – this young seven piece rock band from Edinburgh command the stage. In one sense their music might be called Celtic rock with the feel and mood of Scotland matched with an energetic rockiness. From charismatic front man Jamie Sutherland and his brother on fiddle, who displays a richly dynamic style – the band have then added extra oomph with trumpet and rhythmic depth with cello. They also boast powerhouse drums: good drummers can be often overlooked while they are the centre core of any top band. 

Sutherland also plays keys and guitar, and he took the high tempo down for a few songs. My thought is - watch out for this band and expect the music to match the hype.