PUBLISHED IN SEREN, AUTUMN 2006
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Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene
They’re Canadian in 2006, which is akin to being Scouse in 1966, or white in 1866. In addition to this, their nationality also brings with it the endearing notion of being the latest band of quirk pop exporting eccentrics to attempt to banish forever the memory of perennial guitar botherer Bryan Adams. Or, perhaps more deservedly, Celine Dion. The multi limbed Broken Social Scene (estimates put their member quota somewhere between 10 and 20) self titled third album mines a similar euphoric, clap your hands say fuck yeah vein to Arcade Fire, whilst not being as directly pop as that most obvious contemporary. Despite similarities to the latter, in their chaotic whirlwind of instrumentation and uplifting musical aesthetic, BSS possess a sweeping, textured ambience more in common with Mew’s mellower moments, Sigur Ros and, um, My Vitriol. Single ‘7/4 (Shoreline)’ is a brilliant encapsulation of the album, its wrong footed beat, dreamy vocals and punch the air horn section making it the perfect accompaniment to some serious shape throwing or quiet emo-centric contemplation, this latter theme continued by the more outwardly ambient ‘Finish Your Collapse And Stay For Breakfast’ and ‘Major Label Debut’. It also takes a special kind of band to be able to throw a white boy rap into the mix, as BSS do on ‘Windsurfing Nation’, and not be instantly hateable. But the success of this cheekiness is another able summary of the album’s attributes; it manages to be eclectic and fun, yet never disposable or throwaway. Which is all good, unless you have a penchance for music a little less indie, a little more ‘Run To You’. If this is the case, these horns probably aren’t for you.
