Broken Records
Masque, Liverpool
04/11/2009

A lot of emotionally articulate music comes from Scotland. The Jesus & Mary Chain sang of love in ‘Just Like Honey’ and Glasvegas explored the inevitable guilt of being a philandering moron in ‘It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry’.

Now, add to that list Broken Records, a band that creates energetic, stirring music that’ll catch your heart off guard. They are a seven-piece band from Edinburgh, who, complete with a cellist and violinist, barely manages to fit on the laughably small stage at The Masque.

The band are on impressive form as they play in close proximity to each other, which only adds to the dynamic of their songs. The violin on ‘Nearly Home’ emerges from a rising wall of lush feedback and their 2008 debut single ‘If The News Makes You Sad, Don’t Watch It’ is a brilliant shouty folk song that inspires some diverse dance moves from the audience. It’s almost become tradition to throw some Gaelic shapes at a Broken Records gig, as is waving a sponge, it seems. The Fly counts three people shaking small green sponges towards the stage, baffling most others, but amusing lead singer Jamie Sutherland no end.

Their debut album ‘Until The Earth Begins To Part’ is a blissful listen; it’d take a hardened soul not to be moved by ‘Thoughts On A Picture (In A Paper, January 2009)’, no matter how clumsy the title is. Other tracks tonight include ‘Wolves’ and ‘A Promise’, played, very loudly with genuine passion and energy. They’re a band that will speak to your heart and rattle your eardrums simultaneously.

Their expansive sound has to be toned down tonight since the mixing desk can’t take it all in. They end with ‘Slow Parade’; hopefully next time round they’ll have the adequate space to carry out their ideas.

Mike Doherty