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"Spell Blanket" is a collection of demos and song sketches recorded by the experimental pop duo Broadcast between 2006 and 2009. The 36 tracks lay the groundwork for what would have been their fifth album, offering a generous window into Trish Keenan and James Cargill’s creative process during the post-"Tender Buttons" period. It also serves as a poignant tribute to Keenan, who tragically passed away in 2011, and a testament to the enduring legacy of Broadcast's innovative and influential music.

There's a wide range of material across the anthology, from lo-fi improvisations to more fully formed arrangements. "The Song Before The Song Comes Out" opens - a dictaphone recording of Keenan singing to herself as she walks. It's an intimate voice note, and a playful ode to music-making, with spontaneous lyrics and melodies forming in real time. "March of the Fleas" follows - an evocative noise-pop gem with layered vocal harmonies and distorted guitars.

Songs like "Infant Girl", "I Want to Be Fine" and "The Clock Is On Fire" draw from Broadcast's folk influences. Elsewhere there's the minimal wave of "A Little Light", the spectral yé-yé beat of "Hip Bone to Hip Bone", the hypnotic synth minimalism of "Follow the Light," and "Running Back to Me" propelled by dusty breakbeats and drones.

"The Games You Play" is a previously unheard vocal version of an instrumental track called "DDL" which first appeared on the "All Tomorrow's Parties 1.0" compilation in 2001. "Dream Power" fleetingly hints at dub-inspired rhythms, while closing track "Spirit House," features vintage organ sounds and phased breaks that echo the band's earliest EPs.

As a companion to "Spell Blanket," Broadcast also announced the release of "Distant Call", a collection of early demos that were worked into finished productions appearing on "Haha Sound", "Tender Buttons" and "The Future Crayon". "Distant Call" will be the last release from the beloved band, whose singular voice has left a remarkable legacy.

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Broadcast - Spell Blanket

Spell Blanket - Collected Demos 2006​-​2009

Broadcast