177. Broadcast - The Noise Made By People (2000)

Or: Stereolab under a different name. This is a fine record, certainly better than the one that followed it, but the similarity to Stereolab is so obvious as to be disconcerting. Aside from that, this works pretty great as low-key mood-pop; the 60s influence is obvious but not so overdone as to seem like nothing but cheap nostalgia and some of the songs do manage to create an intense atmosphere ("Long Was the Year"; Echo's Answer"). It's one of those records where the production is just as important as the music itself, if not more so; it's all about atmosphere and mood here, and its success is predicated almost entirely on how well that mood is maintained, and how inviting the melodies are, so you can be effectively drawn into that mood. It does pretty well on both counts, although some of this stuff is little more than easy listening--excellently produced, but easy listening nonetheless. Not revolutionary or anything, and certainly derivative of about four or five other groups I can think of right off the top of my head, but certainly pleasant enough. Overall, a pretty good debut effort from Stereolab 2.0 Broadcast.

MY RATING: 7.3

Broadcast - "Echo's Answer"